Harold's Circus

Harold #5

by Crockett Johnson

From the treasured creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon, Crockett Johnson, comes another adventure for Harold and his magical purple crayon.

One night Harold, with his trusty purple crayon, goes for a walk on a tightrope. Down he falls into a circus complete with trapeze, clowns, and lion tamers. A must-have for every imaginative child’s bookshelf.

“As fresh and imaginative as ever.” (The Horn Book)

“Harold is at the top of his form.” (New York Times)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Art, Fantasy, Animals, Adventure

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Crockett Johnson was the pen name of the American cartoonist and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk. He is best known for the comic strip Barnaby (1942–1952) and the Harold series of books beginning with Harold and the Purple Crayon. [From Wikipedia.]

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this book for the first time...still one of the most inventive concepts in children's books that I have ever come across. I think books that focus on imagination are a very important point to consider when looking for books for small children. Have suggested this book to several of my friends who have small children.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My twins really loved this one. We went to the circus last summer and the kids remember it just enough to love this book. This time Harold experiences the show first hand. From riding elephants to being a clown, from riding on the backs of horses to being shot out of a cannon, you have it all in this exciting circus story that Harold finds himself drawn in. It's enjoyed by all my children, no matter the age, including me, as I love to read them to the kids. I'd put them somewhere between a level 1 and level 2 reading level, which is perfect for my 5 yr old who is starting to read on his own, and loves these so much, can read them by himself easily. These are a great addition to any Harold and the Purple Crayon collection!

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite series of books as a young beginning reader. My imagination was a lot like Harold's I just didn't have the crayon to make things happen. If you have kids or grand-kids these are a great set of book to introduce them to the world of reading. Highly recommended.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The imaginative adventures with the magical purple crayon continue in this fifth picture-book chronicling Harold's creative play, as the young toddler, drawing himself a high-wire, walks out into blank space. Tumbling from his precarious perch, he quickly draws a soft curve upon which to land, finding himself cradled in the trunk of an elephant. Things progress from there, and soon Harold is creating and performing in his own circus, acting the clown, shooting out of a canon, and keeping his teeming audience happy.

First published in 1959, Harold's Circus is very much in the style of its predecessors, with simple text and spare artwork. Like Crockett Johnson's other books, it offers a brilliant depiction of a young child's imaginative life, in which the child himself creates his own adventures, by drawing them into existence. The circus element here is a little dated - I don't care for circuses with performing animals, myself - although that's to be expected, I suppose, in a children's book published in the late 1950s. Leaving that issue aside, this is just a charming addition to the series! Recommended to all fans of Harold, and of his purple crayon.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love the adventures of Harold and his purple crayon? I love the simplicity of the drawings and the fact that young readers can easily re-tell the story by reading the pictures or make up their own stories. Read June 20, 1012

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first. Some very dated ideas in here, but cute as a kid's book, and especially taken as a piece of Americana of the 1960s.

[Batu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beş yaşındaki oğlum Harold hikayelerine bayıldı. 3-7 arası ilgi çekecek, hayal gücünü besleyecek bir kitap. Palyaçoları ve sirkleri seviyorsa bu kitapla başlayın Harold’u ve mor tebeşirini takip etmeye.

[G L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming. I loved it as much as I did Harold and the Purple Crayon, which I first encountered when I was around 30.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

do not ask me why...

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t dislike this book, but it’s not necessarily a favorite. It is a fun and interesting concept but I tend to prefer my books to be silly if it not really a good plot or good lesson. So, it’s fine for variety’s sake but... meh.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from a toddler: “greatest book ever”

[Sonya Feher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, what kind of children's book uses the words "splendid exhibition"? Johnson's willingness to speak up to children makes the Harold stories more engaging than many for kids. Additionally, the simplicity of the illustrations manages to imply a much more detailed and colorful picture than one actually sees. A fun read.

[Shabana Mukhtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.S. This review is same as some of the other Harold books. The stories change, but the feeling of awe is just the same and so is the review.
***
I know, what was I thinking? I love illustrated books, even if I have to tag it as 'i-am-too-old-for-this'.

I have grown older, but my love for simple kid stories remains unchanged. Harold is such a cutie, and the illustrations are great.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

More wonderful Harold. What do you do if you fall off the tight-rope? Well, if you have a purple crayon, a curve might suddenly appear to catch you. :)

[Jordan Horrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his purple crayon, Harold went to the circus. He performed on a tightrope, and then after falling, he was "caught" by an elephant. Harold also drew different individuals that one would see at a circus, including a clown and a fat lady. After shooting after a cannon and swinging on the flying ring, Harold "encountered" a lion. After taming said lion, Harold drew the audience, to which he gave a bow.

I would say that one theme of this book is bravery. The things that Harold "performed" at the circus were very dangerous, such as walking on the tightrope, being shot out a cannon, and taming a lion. But he still did it for the audiences.

I enjoyed Harold and the Purple Crayon as a kid. Harold always created imaginative worlds with his crayon, and they were always fun to look at. The artwork, with only very few colors, was beautiful to look at.

I would recommend this for kids between preschool and 2nd grade for the simple plot lines, the fun artwork, and the suspense that occurs in the story.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harold’s Circus (Harold 5) by Crockett Johnson- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of Harold Harold, a lad of unusual talents. Harold is able to move in a circus on the tight rope. He is able to make viewers laugh. Harold holds a purple crayon and is able to draw. Harold journey starts with a straight line, but from a line to a tightrope is an easy step which leads naturally to lions, elephants, a fat lady, a tall man, clowns, a lemonade man and a coffee man. Tumbling from his precarious perch, he quickly draws a soft curve upon which to land, finding himself cradled in the trunk of an elephant. Things progress from there, and soon Harold is creating and performing in his own circus, acting the clown, shooting out of a canon, and keeping his teeming audience happy. For children, the coloured illustrations of this book encourage a child to draw and learn. I have read the Hindi translation of this book.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harold’s Circus: An Astounding, Colossal Purple Crayon Event by Crockett Johnson (Harper Collins 1959) (Fiction-Children’s) (4065).

I picked this up because I so loved Harold and the Purple Crayon that I thought I’d sample some of the author’s other work.

This is much like the original tale in the series. This one features Harold and his crayon creating an exceptional circus performance.

If I were five years old again, I might have found this to be just as captivating and as hilarious as the first purple crayon tale.

My rating: 7/10, finished 7/10/25.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got the book 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich. Page 416 recommended Harold and the Purple Crayon which was not available at my library so read this one Trip to the Sky (1957) and Harold's Circus (1959). I do remember Harold so was intrigued enough to investigate. Preferred Trip to the Sky over the Circus. Neither captivated me enough to see why on best books but it was interesting to see the perspective of the day.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about how Harold and his purple crayon help him become a performer in a circus. Kids will need to be familiar with Harold and his purple crayon, because there isn't really an explanation of what is going on.

[Doctor Doom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the somewhat disguised childhood of The Purple Man (Zebediah Kilgrave) continues. Fascinating reading for one who knows the truth.
Not as good as previous accounts of Harold's adventures but fun nonetheless.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

More imagination explosions with the magic purple crayon in a series that has similarities and also differences to keep engaging the reader. Simple drawings again and a story that takes you to new places.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harold uses his magical crayon to have a circus adventure.

Like all the books in this series, this picture book celebrates imagination, creativity, flexible thinking, and problem solving on the fly.

As a modern reader, I found the inclusion of a “fat lady” as a circus attraction to be dated and unkind.

[Rachel Gonzaloz De Reta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi bebe disfruto mucho de este libro su parte favorita fue cuando vio al público feliz.
My baby really enjoyed this book, her favorite part was when she saw the happy audience.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels exactly like a real child playing circus.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the original but still creative.

[Slow Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s begin our adventure in life with a blank paper and a purple crayon. I am excited to see what I am capable of. Let’s do this!

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think this series is just okay, but my 4yo loves them. this one shows its dated-ness with the circus experience and the fat lady who is really fat. sigh.

[Vanessa Kuffner]

This was also a book I loved as a child and could read without needing to read the words.

[Stephanie Boynton]

From 1000 books to read before you die

[Stephen Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great exploration of a character’s imagination!