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Book by Packard, Edward
55 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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About the author
Edward Packard
169 books125 followersEdward Packard attended and graduated from both Princeton University and Columbia Law School. He was one of the first authors to explore the idea of gamebooks, in which the reader is inserted as the main character and makes choices about the direction the story will go at designated places in the text.
The first such book that Edward Packard wrote in the Choose Your Own Adventure series was titled "Sugarcane Island", but it was not actually published as the first entry in the Choose Your Own Adventure Series. In 1979, the first book to be released in the series was "The Cave of Time", a fantasy time-travel story that remained in print for many years. Eventually, one hundred eighty-four Choose Your Own Adventure books would be published before production on new entries to the series ceased in 1998. Edward Packard was the author of many of these books, though a substantial number of other authors were included as well.
In 2005, Choose Your Own Adventure books once again began to be published, but none of Edward Packard's titles have yet been included among the newly-released books.
The first such book that Edward Packard wrote in the Choose Your Own Adventure series was titled "Sugarcane Island", but it was not actually published as the first entry in the Choose Your Own Adventure Series. In 1979, the first book to be released in the series was "The Cave of Time", a fantasy time-travel story that remained in print for many years. Eventually, one hundred eighty-four Choose Your Own Adventure books would be published before production on new entries to the series ceased in 1998. Edward Packard was the author of many of these books, though a substantial number of other authors were included as well.
In 2005, Choose Your Own Adventure books once again began to be published, but none of Edward Packard's titles have yet been included among the newly-released books.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 4, 2025
Ah, The Circus. The one that started it all for the Bantam Skylark younger readers Choose Your Own Adventure series in 1981. Your aunt Alice and uncle Harry are in town this summer with the circus. Alice is an acrobat, Harry trains polar bears, and they have invited you for a behind-the-scenes tour. What will you try first? Acrobatics, animal training, and clowning are the three main categories.
Does comedy suit your tastes? Then meet Charley the clown, whose offbeat sense of humor keeps you guessing. He offers to put you in the show this very night as part of the mini-car act. Along with Fang the wolf-dog, a gaggle of clowns, and other kids, you could pile out of the tiny car at the start of the show and surprise the audience. You might be surprised yourself to find out how they manage the illusion. Or you could dress up as an eight-foot ostrich and parade around on stilt legs for the show, but you might take a spill under the bright lights. You'll feel badly, but Charley will be there later to point out that the accident may have revealed your true talent.
Would you rather learn animal training? You could watch Uncle Harry display dazzling control over a polar bear, though even an experienced hand can get overconfident. If you wish, Harry will introduce you to the Great Kamchatka, the lion tamer, who appears to keep his beasts perfectly in line. The Great Kamchatka invites you to step inside the cage, though the experience might freak you out when one lion ignores the trainer and goes directly at you. If you're too scared, you can play ball with the seals, a fun activity that easily swallows the rest of your day. Uncle Harry will let you tour where the animals live if you ask, but beware the baby bear. He seems harmless, but even a small bear can hurt a human. If you avoid that temptation, you might come face to face with an escaped tiger. Has your uncle's example taught you to react to crisis with calm confidence?
Well now, learning acrobatics with Aunt Alice seems exciting! It's a long, dizzying climb to the high wire, and if you don't think you're ready, Uncle Harry has a different sort of surprise: Clever Hank, the world's smartest horse. When asked simple math problems by Chuck Collins, his trainer, Hank taps out the correct answer on the floor. But is the feat really what it seems? Maybe you are prepared to try acrobatics, though the climb to the tent roof feels scary. If you're willing to jump into the net Alice has spread out for you, then you might have what it takes to be an acrobat. With your parents' permission you could travel and train with the circus all summer. If that's too much, you could wrangle the trapeze artist's safety rope just for today, or wash the elephant enclosure if you decide acrobatics isn't your gig after all. There will always be some role for you in the circus if you want it.
As template setter for the series, The Circus is a success, and Edward Packard was the right author for the task. To a kid, seeing a circus show is enthralling, but the glitz can only hold one's attention for so long; these pages reveal the actual substance to be at least as fascinating as the few fast-paced minutes you see from the audience. The hard work, creativity, and detailed planning that go into a good show are the challenge that invigorates a true performer. I love how your aunt describes Charley the clown: "(He) likes to surprise people...He never says what you expect him to say." That's the essence of an artist, purposefully straying from the conventional into the extraordinary. It's what draws people to them. I think I'll rate The Circus two and a half stars, and wasn't far from rounding to three. It's one of the best books in the series, and I've gone back for a reread many times.
Does comedy suit your tastes? Then meet Charley the clown, whose offbeat sense of humor keeps you guessing. He offers to put you in the show this very night as part of the mini-car act. Along with Fang the wolf-dog, a gaggle of clowns, and other kids, you could pile out of the tiny car at the start of the show and surprise the audience. You might be surprised yourself to find out how they manage the illusion. Or you could dress up as an eight-foot ostrich and parade around on stilt legs for the show, but you might take a spill under the bright lights. You'll feel badly, but Charley will be there later to point out that the accident may have revealed your true talent.
Would you rather learn animal training? You could watch Uncle Harry display dazzling control over a polar bear, though even an experienced hand can get overconfident. If you wish, Harry will introduce you to the Great Kamchatka, the lion tamer, who appears to keep his beasts perfectly in line. The Great Kamchatka invites you to step inside the cage, though the experience might freak you out when one lion ignores the trainer and goes directly at you. If you're too scared, you can play ball with the seals, a fun activity that easily swallows the rest of your day. Uncle Harry will let you tour where the animals live if you ask, but beware the baby bear. He seems harmless, but even a small bear can hurt a human. If you avoid that temptation, you might come face to face with an escaped tiger. Has your uncle's example taught you to react to crisis with calm confidence?
Well now, learning acrobatics with Aunt Alice seems exciting! It's a long, dizzying climb to the high wire, and if you don't think you're ready, Uncle Harry has a different sort of surprise: Clever Hank, the world's smartest horse. When asked simple math problems by Chuck Collins, his trainer, Hank taps out the correct answer on the floor. But is the feat really what it seems? Maybe you are prepared to try acrobatics, though the climb to the tent roof feels scary. If you're willing to jump into the net Alice has spread out for you, then you might have what it takes to be an acrobat. With your parents' permission you could travel and train with the circus all summer. If that's too much, you could wrangle the trapeze artist's safety rope just for today, or wash the elephant enclosure if you decide acrobatics isn't your gig after all. There will always be some role for you in the circus if you want it.
As template setter for the series, The Circus is a success, and Edward Packard was the right author for the task. To a kid, seeing a circus show is enthralling, but the glitz can only hold one's attention for so long; these pages reveal the actual substance to be at least as fascinating as the few fast-paced minutes you see from the audience. The hard work, creativity, and detailed planning that go into a good show are the challenge that invigorates a true performer. I love how your aunt describes Charley the clown: "(He) likes to surprise people...He never says what you expect him to say." That's the essence of an artist, purposefully straying from the conventional into the extraordinary. It's what draws people to them. I think I'll rate The Circus two and a half stars, and wasn't far from rounding to three. It's one of the best books in the series, and I've gone back for a reread many times.
April 28, 2021
Viene el verano, y con ello el circo (en concreto el de tus tíos), a la ciudad. Ellos deciden que pases un día entre bambalinas y / o experimentando de primera mano la esencia del espectáculo. Por ello, te proponen si deseas ser: acróbata, domador o payaso.
Este sencillito volumen de la serie infantil de libre elección tiene la virtud de tener a Packard como escritor, ya que su hacer ágil como narrador te mete en la trama en un instante y ya comienza tu aventura. Respecto a cada profesión, no nos vamos encontrar con enormes sorpresas ni el desarrollo más refinado, sino el obvio. En el caso del payaso, pasaremos por el típico espectáculo del coche, con perrito incluido, disfrazarte y mediante tu torpeza, hacer reír a la gente o ser espectador del desfile del resto del grupo (con una descripción concisa pero perfecta, tanto del ambiente en la pista como en las gradas). En cuanto a la de acróbata, podremos decidir quedarnos como parte de la plantilla después de nuestro exitoso estreno, salvar la vida de un compañero, o ejercer labores de mantenimiento, entre otras. Y respecto a la tercera, la de domador, nos encontramos con tres opciones principales, y podremos desempeñar el oficio al uso, nos toparemos con el típico incidente de animal suelto o conoceremos la variedad de bestias dentro del circo, nuevamente con mayor o menor riesgo ( y algún final recurrente de ‘impacto’).
Todo lo anteriormente mencionado, nos puede dar una idea que el habilidoso autor se ha visto bastante limitado debido a su temática base y el número de páginas que debe contener estos libritos de la serie. Realmente, en una obra con historias sustancialmente pobres, pero aceptablemente solucionadas. Sin embargo, es de los que se tornarán, tras su lectura, de un solo uso y posterior olvido. Una lástima.
Este sencillito volumen de la serie infantil de libre elección tiene la virtud de tener a Packard como escritor, ya que su hacer ágil como narrador te mete en la trama en un instante y ya comienza tu aventura. Respecto a cada profesión, no nos vamos encontrar con enormes sorpresas ni el desarrollo más refinado, sino el obvio. En el caso del payaso, pasaremos por el típico espectáculo del coche, con perrito incluido, disfrazarte y mediante tu torpeza, hacer reír a la gente o ser espectador del desfile del resto del grupo (con una descripción concisa pero perfecta, tanto del ambiente en la pista como en las gradas). En cuanto a la de acróbata, podremos decidir quedarnos como parte de la plantilla después de nuestro exitoso estreno, salvar la vida de un compañero, o ejercer labores de mantenimiento, entre otras. Y respecto a la tercera, la de domador, nos encontramos con tres opciones principales, y podremos desempeñar el oficio al uso, nos toparemos con el típico incidente de animal suelto o conoceremos la variedad de bestias dentro del circo, nuevamente con mayor o menor riesgo ( y algún final recurrente de ‘impacto’).
Todo lo anteriormente mencionado, nos puede dar una idea que el habilidoso autor se ha visto bastante limitado debido a su temática base y el número de páginas que debe contener estos libritos de la serie. Realmente, en una obra con historias sustancialmente pobres, pero aceptablemente solucionadas. Sin embargo, es de los que se tornarán, tras su lectura, de un solo uso y posterior olvido. Una lástima.
July 9, 2013
the adventures that I went through when I was bored I just read these books over and over again you would never get to the end of the story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews