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Jan 10, 2012

Sheila rated it:

Candace Fleming is now offically my favorite biography writer. Everything she writes comes alive. If you have ever struggled to find an interesting book for those biography reports the kids are always being assigned in school--look no further. I was telling a group of boy scouts about this book the other day and they actually started fighting over who got to check out the last copy. They didn't even have a book report due! I liked this one so much I purchased a copy for my personal collection.

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Jan 08, 2011

Danna rated it:

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick, entertaining read. It was incredible to learn P.T. Barnum's history, from growing up with a prankster grandfather through his opening of the American Museum, tours of Europe with Tom Thumb, and his grand finale of the Greatest Show on Earth. Barnum raked in the dough fooling America's citizens and seemed to enjoy every minute of it - as did the citizens! No one seemed to mind his "humbuggery" a bit. One of the facts I found most interesting was, during More...

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Aug 29, 2010

Margo rated it:

I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating look into the life of the renowned showman P. T. Barnum. This larger-than-life figure is not easy to capture on paper, but Fleming does an admirable job capturing his elephant-sized personality. I especially liked the sections on his early years, where we learn how a small time boy known as Tale from the tiny village of Bethel, Connecticut evolved into P.T. Barnum, the world-famous showman. For example, we learn how Tale came from a family of practical jokes More...

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Aug 20, 2010

Dee rated it:

The photobiography details the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, exuberant creator of sideshows, circuses, and “humbugs”. Children will recognize Barnum & Bailey’s Circus, but few will know about his early days as a clerk or creation of his sideshow/museum. He is rendered much more human after readers discover his humble beginnings in Connecticut, as the namesake grandson of a well-known jokester. Barnum’s personal anecdotes are told in sidebars throughout, allowing the reader to fully engage with

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Aug 05, 2010

Jbachelder rated it:

Fleming has masterfully combined the story of P.T. Barnum's colorful life (he was not always a saint!) and his ever-expanding knack for show business, weaving in the history of the 19th century to create an interesting and well-balanced look at the man and the time. Though this is meant for a young audience -- I would say it's appropriate and of interest to 4th grade and up -- the author doesn't shy away from the truth of his ambition, the neglect of his family, his alcoholism and religious red More...

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Jun 14, 2010

Sunday rated it:

I did pretty much read this book through in one sitting. It is definitely readable - written in a straightforward style. The literary artistry and aesthetic appeal were lacking for me - the layouts were simple and the entire text is black and white which I thought was odd when you think about Barnum's work- it was probably filled with amazing color. The black/white contributed somewhat to the authority, though - because most of the pictures were of primary sources - pictures of Barnum and the cu More...

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May 13, 2010

Erin rated it:

4starP
Photographs and pen-and-ink illustrations
Radical Change
Grades 4 and up

The subtitle, "The Tremendous Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum" perfectly describes this excellent biography that reads like an exciting story. Fascinating look at a man who was both an innovative, creative businessmen and an absent father. The book captures the museum and circus he created so vividly, it makes you feel like you were there. Fun sidebars explain things such as " More...

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Feb 08, 2010

Christiane rated it:

By all accounts (particularly his own!) Barnum was an amazing personality who led a stupendous life. Though this short biography can only graze the surface, it does a wonderful job bringing the showman to life. Even as a young man, Barnum spent a lot of time "thinking up ways to make money while avoiding work". Not that he was not hard-working, but what interested him was "headwork", not laboring in the soil. The book is very readable, with many sidebars of interesting fac More...

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Jan 27, 2010

Beth rated it:

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Dec 24, 2009

Barbara rated it:

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Mar 05, 2011

Judith rated it:

I have come up with a new title for this splendid biography. It should be titled P.T. Barnum: The Man Who Could Sell Water to Fish and Air to Humans. What an amazing individual, although not always ethical in his business practices or care of humans and animals. Barnum's mind seems to have always been running on overdrive thinking up creative ways to make money, and money he did make! Flemming does a thorough job capturing the mood/tone/feel of his life, the times, and audiences. People tra More...

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Nov 09, 2009

Ms. rated it:

I usually shy away from reading children's biographies, because they tend to be either two simplistic or all style and no substance. I decided to read THE GREAT AND ONLY BARNUM because of all the wonderful reviews I'd read, plus I've always been a wee bit curious about Mr. Barnum.

Visually, I like this book. Its chapters begin with what look like advertisement cards for Mr. Barnum's attractions. Each chapter focuses on one event or part of Barnum's life, told succinctly with just More...

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Oct 27, 2009

Chelsea rated it:

I was amazed at how interesting this book was. Barnum was a larger than life character who was responsible for all sorts of entertainment aspects that have become commonplace, like the three ring circus and celebrity obsession. I was so intrigued by his character as well - he made his living essentially by duping people, but he always respected his audiences and was the first to admit a hoax. Fleming does a great job of placing his life within the context of the late nineteenth century explosion More...

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Jun 22, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

I’m trying to work out why exactly this is the only children’s biography of P.T. Barnum I remember having seen before. I’m sure there are others. If I could just lift my lazy fingers high enough to type in “P.T. Barnum” into my library’s catalog system I’m sure I’d find a couple. But why only a couple? Why isn’t Barnum as popular a topic as, say, Houdini? Both spent their lives bamboozling people, one way or another. But where Houdini got off looking like a star, people are awfully mixed o More...

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Nov 11, 2011

Alicia rated it:

I am at a loss to describe the beauty and information in this book. I'm at a loss why it was only a finalist for the Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction as opposed to the winner! Or, maybe it's just because the way the information was presented (simple and humorously) got my attention, or maybe I just really wanted to know more about this guy's life? The first few anecdotes get you hooked and I actually started reading them out loud to my husband.

I was suprised to find out that the c More...

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Jan 19, 2010

Toby rated it:

Another tremendous stupendous scrapbook-style biography by Candace Fleming. Lots of photographs (although some need a magnifying glass to see the details) and fantastic book design. Barnum was not only a humbug, but also a philanthropist, family man, and successful businessman who never gave up, even when fire destroyed his entire enterprise not once, not twice but three times. I appreciate that Fleming directly addresses the issue of 'freak' shows in circuses by putting them in context. And More...

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Sep 09, 2009

Kathy rated it:

Imaginative, determined, and resilient, showman P.T. Barnum dedicated his life to amusing people, as a congenial sales clerk, promoter, and developer of highly popular museums in New York and the first circus to travel by rail.
This very readable and entertaining biography is not overblown but certainly influenced by Barnum's own hyperbolic style. Plenty of photographs help readers visualize the subject, and the chronological organization and clear chapter titles make his story easy to f More...

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Jul 01, 2011

Marita rated it:

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books, p2009, c2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-94597-7
Illustrator: Fenwick, Ray

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
Subjects: Circus
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 7.0

Chronological record of the life and times of the life of P. T. Barnum. Book talks of the creation and expansion of his circus as well as interesting people and challenging events shaped shaped his life.

Reviews & Awards
Booklist starred 06/01/09
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Mar 14, 2011

Shawn rated it:

Barnum's life is so interesting that any book would be a joy to read; Fleming's book, although not perfect, was perfectly enjoyable. My only complaint - and it's a big one - was the many, many inset boxes of text with additional facts and information. WHY? What's the point? If this is a tactic to mimic kids' history textbooks, why would you want to do that? Kids' history text books SUCK. They are Boring. Or is it supposed to appeal to kids' lack of attention and increased reliance on visu More...

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Apr 12, 2010

Jackie rated it:

A short history of the father of the American circus. There are many interesting facts about Barnum and Fleming does a good job of telling about all the acts and sights that Barnum included in his early "museums" and his later circuses. However, I found that the writing wasn't as sharp as it could be. Fleming's use of graphics and type was annoying too. I don't like the cover. She does spend time on his family and their relationships and his early alcoholism. For me, the most int More...

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May 07, 2010

Claudia rated it:

I'm considering using this in my classroom (seventh grade) in a nonfiction unit. The students tend to be interested in biographies of unusual individuals, and in memorable stories from history. Barnum's is a fascinating story. I can see using it as a basis of discussions about changes in what entertains us and changes in what society tends to think of as right and wrong, about advertising (truth or humbug), about entrepreneurship and perseverance, and about how we treat people who are differen More...

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Dec 30, 2009

Kelly rated it:

Really interesting look into the life of the showman PT Barnum. Knowing nothing of him, I was engrossed with him and his antics (because they were!). I loved the photos and wished there were more of them (or more memorabilia). I liked the sidebars but got a bit overwhelmed with them when the text didn't end on that page and I had to flip pages. My one real criticism is that there's almost too much showmanship in the art of the book -- the use of various fonts, the elaborate designs on the chapte More...

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Nov 14, 2011

Jessie rated it:

A fun and interesting biography of P.T. Barnum. I liked the inset text boxes and abundance of images, especially all of the curiosities that Barnum featured in his museum and at his show. I also appreciated that his neglect of his wife and children and his drinking problem were addressed, but they seemed to be resolved overnight. I also liked that the book addressed the cultural and historic context of the sideshows and Barnum's treatment of the museum and circus animals. I think this would More...

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Nov 30, 2009

Becky rated it:

One of the most interesting, well-designed, and best-written biographies I've ever read! Give this to someone with a biography assignment and tell them it reads like a really good chapter book! I don't want to give too much away, but the ups and downs of Barnum's life were fascinating.

Lately I've been thinking about the idea of "seeking one's fortune." This seemed to happen a lot more in the olden days: your parents provide for you to the point where you can walk off down More...

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Dec 27, 2011

Heidi rated it:

Before this book, all I knew about Barnum was the circus I saw as a 7-year old which bore his name. So for my uninformed mind, this book was very informative. I had no idea just how much P.T. Barnum did in his life. How much he influenced America, museums, circuses, and more. I wouldn't say he was a man I could look up to, but I was very happy to hear of him stand up for his convictions and learn life important lessons.

Good for ~7 and up if they're looking for a well-researched bio. More...

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Feb 04, 2012

Erica rated it:

Book talk: Come one, come all and learn about the extraordinary life of P.T. Barnum and the stupendous history of his American Museum and the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Barnum was famous for many attractions: 25 in. tall Tom Thumb, 7 ft. 11 in. tall Anna Swan, the first public aquarium complete with a beluga whale, Zazel the human cannonball, Salamander the fire horse, and an 11 and a 1/2 ft. tall elephant named Jumbo to name a few. But perhaps the biggest attraction was P.T. Barnum himself. H More...

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Jul 23, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

What I found most appealing about this book, as a librarian, was two main points:

1. The book's presentations combined sidebars, visual images & the main content in a splendid way providing both readers & non-readers a way to explore not only this particular individual but to tackle a biography. The text is slightly larger which also gives the idea that the book is not as "text heavy" again giving many reluctant readers a more likely willingness to pick up the book.
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Feb 28, 2010

Sean rated it:

A biography of PT Barnum, that like his circus, does not disappoint. From a child Barnum was an interesting and business minded person. He wanted to make money and entertain, which shows through his entire lifetime as he cards for little else.

Barnum was very successful throughout his life, but always encountered setbacks. He was not always the most ethical man (he owned a slave who he claimed to be the oldest women in the world) and he tried many different ideas on his climb to th More...

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Dec 15, 2010

Elly rated it:

I have always associates "P.T. Barnum" with the curcus, including the animal crackers in the cage like box. I thought it would be interesting to read about the life of the man who singlehandedly changed the show business. I'm not traditionally a lover of biographies, but this one told it in a story like manner with fun page designs and pictures. There were pictures on every page, and interesting fact sidenotes on several pages as well. I learned a lot about this man, and enjoyed readin More...

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Jul 02, 2009

Monica rated it:

Wow --- as is to be expected Barnum led quite a life! Really, really enjoyed this book. Fleming has a light, clear voice and she communicates just the right amount of information. Loved the way she sprinkled throughout all sorts of sidebars with well-known and not so well-known Barnum stories and acts. I knew about his museum, but I reading her description of it again wowed me --- pretty amazing operation!

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