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The Circus Comes to Town
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1921
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 7, 2020
Oh, now THIS was a great circus story! Just what I was hoping for.
Written in 1921, The Circus Comes To Town tells the story of seven- (or maybe eight-) year old 'orphum' Jerry Elbow and his life with the Mullarkey family. Mr. Mullarkey (may he rest in peace) found Jerry by the side of the road three years earlier and took him home just as if he was a stray puppy. Simpler times, weren't they.
Jerry understands, though, that he is not a blood member of the clan, and often has to deal with being the low man on the totem pole of Mullarkey children. Danny especially can be cruel, and Celia Jane too, but Nora and Chris are not too awful most of the time, and baby Kathleen is a dear. So Jerry Elbow is about as happy as he expects he should be.
Until he sees a circus poster with an elephant on it. What is it about that elephant that sets him to dreaming? And how is it that Jerry knows the shape of an elephant's tail: it really is more like a rope than a beaver's tale the way Danny thinks, but how does Jerry know this? He cannot explain, he just knows.
Of course there is a snooty rich kid involved in the story too. A snooty rich kid who pretends to know everything and makes fun of the Mullarkey bunch for not knowing that the poster means just one thing: the circus is coming to town!!
How in the world can the downtrodden Mullarkeys get themselves into the tent to see that circus? Because they just HAVE to see it! They just HAVE to! Especially Jerry Elbow, who is so desperate to see the show that tender-hearted readers will want to cry along with him every time he tears up at the mere idea of not getting to go to the circus.
I really liked this story, although I felt sorry for Jerry so many times, and wanted to slap those mean Mullarkey kids silly more than once. They were just being kids, I suppose, but I admit I had forgotten just how mean kids can be sometimes. Childhood always was a test of character, wasn't it. A chance to learn who you were supposed to be, whether it is a bully or a champion. And of course there is sometimes the chance to change your own destiny, right? (With the help of an elephant, naturally!)
Written in 1921, The Circus Comes To Town tells the story of seven- (or maybe eight-) year old 'orphum' Jerry Elbow and his life with the Mullarkey family. Mr. Mullarkey (may he rest in peace) found Jerry by the side of the road three years earlier and took him home just as if he was a stray puppy. Simpler times, weren't they.
Jerry understands, though, that he is not a blood member of the clan, and often has to deal with being the low man on the totem pole of Mullarkey children. Danny especially can be cruel, and Celia Jane too, but Nora and Chris are not too awful most of the time, and baby Kathleen is a dear. So Jerry Elbow is about as happy as he expects he should be.
Until he sees a circus poster with an elephant on it. What is it about that elephant that sets him to dreaming? And how is it that Jerry knows the shape of an elephant's tail: it really is more like a rope than a beaver's tale the way Danny thinks, but how does Jerry know this? He cannot explain, he just knows.
Of course there is a snooty rich kid involved in the story too. A snooty rich kid who pretends to know everything and makes fun of the Mullarkey bunch for not knowing that the poster means just one thing: the circus is coming to town!!
How in the world can the downtrodden Mullarkeys get themselves into the tent to see that circus? Because they just HAVE to see it! They just HAVE to! Especially Jerry Elbow, who is so desperate to see the show that tender-hearted readers will want to cry along with him every time he tears up at the mere idea of not getting to go to the circus.
I really liked this story, although I felt sorry for Jerry so many times, and wanted to slap those mean Mullarkey kids silly more than once. They were just being kids, I suppose, but I admit I had forgotten just how mean kids can be sometimes. Childhood always was a test of character, wasn't it. A chance to learn who you were supposed to be, whether it is a bully or a champion. And of course there is sometimes the chance to change your own destiny, right? (With the help of an elephant, naturally!)
March 20, 2019
D'awwww!
This book was just a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It captured the way 8 year olds think and speak perfectly. It reminded me a lot of The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew、the same sort of genre.
It was adorable and I would happily read more by these authors.
This book was just a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It captured the way 8 year olds think and speak perfectly. It reminded me a lot of The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew、the same sort of genre.
It was adorable and I would happily read more by these authors.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews