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72nd out of 72 books
—
5 voters
When the Circus Came to Town
Can Ursula ever show her face again? Ursula always wanted to see the circus. That is, until she caught smallpox. Now all she wants is to hide her scarred face from everyone. But Ah Sam, her parents' Chinese cook, has other ideas.
One day Ah Sam surprises Ursula by bringing a circus to town, but there's one problem -- there's no music. Ursula is the only one who can play the...more
One day Ah Sam surprises Ursula by bringing a circus to town, but there's one problem -- there's no music. Ursula is the only one who can play the...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
February 3rd 2004
by HarperCollins
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This was I think the third time I read this book. I read it a few years ago and decided to reread it because it is about circus. If you know anything about me, you probably know of my love for circus.
I think this book takes place during the 1800s or early 1900s. In the book, we are introduced to Ursula, a friendly girl that loves playing pirates with her friends. Her parents own a hotel or stagecoach something, and when a guest gives her smallpox, she decides to stay in her room, vowing never to...more
I think this book takes place during the 1800s or early 1900s. In the book, we are introduced to Ursula, a friendly girl that loves playing pirates with her friends. Her parents own a hotel or stagecoach something, and when a guest gives her smallpox, she decides to stay in her room, vowing never to...more
This was a lovely gem of a book that I discovered by accident. I was browsing the library website for books related to our future history topics and found this. It came up when I searched "stagecoaches." The girl's family runs a stage coach stop out west. There were many subjects to discuss beyond the original stagecoach I originally checked it out for: friendship, Chinese Americans, smallpox, Chinese New Year, and overcoming differences. Dax and I both loved it.
This book talks about a girl named Ursula who have always wanted to see a circus. Just before New Years, she got chicken poxs. She was upset and didn't want anyone to see her face.
On the day of the New Year, Ah Sam(Chinese cooker who worked for her parents in the restaurant) bought a circus to town for Ursula. But there wasn't any music. So Ursula decided to go outside of town and give the circus some music. Ursula saved the circus! Everyone was really happy that day, including Ursula.
On the day of the New Year, Ah Sam(Chinese cooker who worked for her parents in the restaurant) bought a circus to town for Ursula. But there wasn't any music. So Ursula decided to go outside of town and give the circus some music. Ursula saved the circus! Everyone was really happy that day, including Ursula.
Age of readership: 8-10
Genre: Historical fiction
Diversity: Multicultural, racism.
Description of the illustrations: There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book.
Personal response to the book: I enjoyed the book because of its story of the Chinese in America that were in America in the mid to lat 1800's.
Curricular and programming connections: The book tells give a glimpse of Chinese culture and racism and could bring awareness of difficulties the the Chinese had in the 1800's....more
Genre: Historical fiction
Diversity: Multicultural, racism.
Description of the illustrations: There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book.
Personal response to the book: I enjoyed the book because of its story of the Chinese in America that were in America in the mid to lat 1800's.
Curricular and programming connections: The book tells give a glimpse of Chinese culture and racism and could bring awareness of difficulties the the Chinese had in the 1800's....more
Lighthearted, fun look at the realities of being different (in various ways). Also historical, so I learned new things.
Aside from that, it was also just a cute, fun story. I would love to read it to children.
Aside from that, it was also just a cute, fun story. I would love to read it to children.
This one was not as good as The Trolls and Everything on a Waffle, but better than Canning Season.
Jareth picked this book out all by himself at the library and we are now picking it up for out nightly reading.
We enjoyed this book!
We enjoyed this book!
Adventuresome, spirited, "Pirate" Ursula contracts smallpox, which leaves her face scarred. Strangers laugh at her when she goes out in public, so she hides from the world, including her friends. When a man from China, Ah Sam, comes to work for Ursula's family, Ursula changes for the better. Historical fiction.
Sep 16, 2007
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
read-childrens-books,
read-historical-fiction
Takes place in a small town in turn-of-the-century Montana.
A Chinese cook and some circus performers help a young girl overcome her reluctance to be seen in public with the smallpox scars that cover her face.
A Chinese cook and some circus performers help a young girl overcome her reluctance to be seen in public with the smallpox scars that cover her face.
Heartwarming and expertly written. For a younger audience so simple and short, but not lacking in depth and beauty. Based on a true story, which always makes books awesomer.
i had to read this for school... its a very intresting book. i don't remember all of it... it was a while ago i read it.
JF Yep
Apr 05, 2013
Heidi Schulz
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2013
JoEllen
marked it as to-read
Mar 12, 2013
Lissaleo
marked it as to-read
Mar 01, 2013
Lama Tobiya
marked it as to-read
Feb 27, 2013
Carol Gallaway
is currently reading it
Jan 24, 2013
Kamajay Cotton
marked it as to-read
Jan 21, 2013
North Branch
marked it as north-branch-jf
Jan 06, 2013
Porsche Chen
marked it as to-read
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Born June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After...more
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