The Circus

by Brian Wildsmith

All the splendor and excitement of acrobatic feats at the circus are unveiled in color for young children

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1970

About the author

Brian Wildsmith (1930-2016) was raised in a small mining village in Yorkshire, England, where, he says, "Everything was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..."

He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.

He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.

Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."

In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.

Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.

— Source

Reviews

[Franci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful picture book!!!!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s such a pity that the circus is practically nonexistent (or entirely nonexistent, as it seems). No more posters hanging throughout town. No huge, red and white striped tents. No colorful and oddly shaped circus trucks. No hype, anticipation, nor excitement for this current generation. It’s kind of sad when you think about it, because the circus embodies so much childhood wonder.

I guess if you can’t take your kids, show them instead! Wildsmith’s depictions are truly great! Bold and colorful, and full of action and energy!

With only 13 words, it’s one of the most picture-ish picture books. Just hand it over to your kiddos to look at. They’ll get the idea.

Ages: 2 - 7

Cleanliness: many men in one picture without a shirt on - not very detailed.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

in this smaller edition, the pictures are cropped badly. many of the animals have chopped off feet. try to get the hardback.
update: well, the 1970 hardback has cropped illustrations also. too bad.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely art

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just like Wildsmith's unique style of illustrating. It is vivid and bright.

We read the Japanese version of this book (I translated to English.) However, there is only one or two short lines of text. This is basically a wordless book that shows scenes from a circus.

[Lynn Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just found this children's book at a book sale and it is one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen. The illustrations are just gorgeous. I love it!!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is so crazy exaggerated in illustrations, that the text is supporting the pictures.