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The Great Zapfino
When The Great Zapfino climbs to the top of the circus platform, all eyes are on him, waiting for his incredible leap. But Zapfino is afraid of heights! He can’t take the pressure and flees, boards a plane, and runs away to start a new life.
In the city, Zapfino starts work as an elevator operator in a tall building but soon learns you can never really outrun your fears. When disaster strikes, can Zapfino find the strength to be great?
In the city, Zapfino starts work as an elevator operator in a tall building but soon learns you can never really outrun your fears. When disaster strikes, can Zapfino find the strength to be great?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2022
1 person is currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Mac Barnett
93 books1,340 followersBorn to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
June 3, 2022
Except for the framing opening of a circus announcer, almost all of this story is wordless, a tale of Zapfino facing his fears. He has to jump ten stories on to a tiny trampoline, but backs out and takes a safer job as an elevator operator instead. Lots of kind of entertaining vignettes ala silent movies ensue, until Zapfino's toaster sets the building on fire and he has to. . . . leave the building, via a window! Tenth floor!
So you think you know what that kind of kid book is about, right? Thick with cliches, right? Well, the creators Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee are not the kind of artists that are predictable. They take their own risks in the production by Frazee's by doing the art in delicate black and white pencil drawings. Then, no words! You have to do the work of "reading" the visuals! Ach! But as with Barnett and Jon Klaasen's Triangle, Square and Circle, they trust that kids and parents can figure out this tale together.
This is the kind of sense of quirky, whimsical, humane humor and intelligence they have; in the bios of the creators, they say: Mac Barnett has been to the circus. Marla Frazee has a dog named Toaster.
So you think you know what that kind of kid book is about, right? Thick with cliches, right? Well, the creators Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee are not the kind of artists that are predictable. They take their own risks in the production by Frazee's by doing the art in delicate black and white pencil drawings. Then, no words! You have to do the work of "reading" the visuals! Ach! But as with Barnett and Jon Klaasen's Triangle, Square and Circle, they trust that kids and parents can figure out this tale together.
This is the kind of sense of quirky, whimsical, humane humor and intelligence they have; in the bios of the creators, they say: Mac Barnett has been to the circus. Marla Frazee has a dog named Toaster.
October 7, 2022
Great book about overcoming your fears. If you know a small child facing challenges this is a book that might help. It shows that if you don't face your fears it will not end there - your fears will come back in different ways and follow you through your life. A great lesson that is told in a very original way.
January 20, 2023
A circus performer runs from his death-defying stunt for safer work but finds he still must face his fears. Cute and funny.
(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.)
(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.)
April 27, 2023
Marla Frazee continues the circus theme in this mostly wordless picture book about high jumper Zapfino.
April 6, 2022
Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee (who are presented together as creators of this book) tell the story of The Great Zapfino, a circus performer, who climbs up “ten terrifying stories” to leap onto a small trampoline. He doesn’t leap, though, he runs away and becomes an elevator operator. Many, many trips up and down in the elevator car (and many, many, many interesting characters) later, Zapfino is compelled to leap from the tenth floor as his building as it is on fire. He twists! He turns! The Great Zapfino lands it! Apparently over his fear, does he return to the circus? Read to find out.
Both Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee put so much honesty, compassion and humor into their tiny Great Zapfino. It’s sure to tickle many a funny bone. Make sure you spend some time studying the characters in the elevators.
Both Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee put so much honesty, compassion and humor into their tiny Great Zapfino. It’s sure to tickle many a funny bone. Make sure you spend some time studying the characters in the elevators.
August 25, 2022
Sweet. Mostly pictures, which is a new favorite element of mine in children's books. A good message. You have to face your fears.
May 14, 2022
Not quite sure I get it - young readers will be wondering where Zapfino went… or is it a dream? I’ll need to think on that. Pencil drawings add to the time period. Love looking at all the people in the elevator scenes
January 2, 2022
Heartfelt and sweet story about courage. Full of expression!
June 27, 2022
Zapfino is a circus performer. He jumps from ten stories in the air to land on a tiny trampoline. Or rather that is what he is supposed to do, but when the moment arrives, his fear overcomes him and he runs away, boards and plane and flies to a new place to start a new life. Such fun illustrations and fun story of overcoming fear.
March 11, 2023
Zapfino is a circus performer who is going to jump from an extreme height onto a tiny trampoline to wow the audience, but he can't do it.
So he runs away and becomes a bellhop, always going up and down and safe.
Til One day....
Mac Barnett and Marla Freeze give us a story of courage in this old-fashion homage with black and white pencil art.
So he runs away and becomes a bellhop, always going up and down and safe.
Til One day....
Mac Barnett and Marla Freeze give us a story of courage in this old-fashion homage with black and white pencil art.
August 19, 2024
Since bringing this home from the library, we've read it at least 6 times.
I love the mix of text filled/wordless pages, and my daughter especially loved looking at all of the very detailed Frazee illustrations. We were rooting for Zapfino until the very end, and love how he redeems himself!
I love the mix of text filled/wordless pages, and my daughter especially loved looking at all of the very detailed Frazee illustrations. We were rooting for Zapfino until the very end, and love how he redeems himself!
October 20, 2022
This was a good story. The drawings were nice and I could definitely say this is a good book. :)
December 4, 2022
There is something so satisfying about the pencil drawings and the penciled lettering in this book. A lot of it is wordless. Philosophically, what does it have to do with courage? Is courage less valuable if it's inspired by necessity?
September 29, 2022
The Great Zapfino is about to jump from a plank ten stories high onto a skimpy trampoline down below. But at the last moment, Zapfino decides he actually doesn't want to jump ten stories after all. Fleeing the scene, he boards a plane and gets a new (much tamer) job as a bellhop. At least, he thinks his new job will be tamer, but when a fire breaks out on the tenth floor, Zapfino will have to face his fears.
Since becoming a children's librarian, I've learned a secret: Lots of adults don't like wordless picture books. But not to worry—although this picture book is almost entirely wordless, there's so much to love! Each page has very expressive, very detailed pictures that are ripe for storytelling. A standout in the wordless picture book world.
Since becoming a children's librarian, I've learned a secret: Lots of adults don't like wordless picture books. But not to worry—although this picture book is almost entirely wordless, there's so much to love! Each page has very expressive, very detailed pictures that are ripe for storytelling. A standout in the wordless picture book world.
July 16, 2022
TWO Caldecott Medal winners collaborated on this disaster of a nearly wordless “story” about a circus performer turned elevator operator that will bore children to sleep. Bland black-and-white illustrations are as effective as Benadryl in keeping readers awake long enough to care whether Zapfino makes the leap.
October 28, 2022
The story is simple but the art is AMAZING. So expressive for being completely in black and white. And simple of course doesn't mean without substance! It's a life-affirming tale about knowing your limits and overcoming your fears.
September 26, 2022
An inspiring story that comes around full circle, focusing on how running from your fears isn't the solution, because they'll come back. I wish this had more substance to it.
July 18, 2023
The Great Zapfino was supposed to be a high-diving act at the circus, but he got cold feet and ran away from the circus to become an elevator operator in a condo at a beach town. His days are filled with all sorts of elevator rides and ends with a toasted sandwich. But one day his toasted sandwich gets a bit too toasted and the Great Zapfino must face the circus act he ran away from.
A bit of a whacky circle of events, but it works. Aside from the big circus introduction Zapfino gets at the beginning of the book, the story is largely wordless. I liked the wide variety of elevator riders Frazee imagined for Zapfino to help up and down the elevator. Her illustrations are subtly packed with emotion and story. It may be black and white, but it is still very entertaining. I can see imaginative little readers spending hours with this book imagining back stories for all the many elevator riders. And I liked the ending, too. There's a freedom from facing your fears. And that though Zapfino proves he could do the circus act, he's satisfied with a quieter life. The limelight isn't the best place for everyone, regardless of their talent, and that's ok. I don't know how I missed the release of this book last year. I really like both Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee but I didn't see anything about this book anywhere until I found it at the public library on vacation. It's cute and would be a great launching point to talk about facing fears or even talking to high schoolers about job selection.
A bit of a whacky circle of events, but it works. Aside from the big circus introduction Zapfino gets at the beginning of the book, the story is largely wordless. I liked the wide variety of elevator riders Frazee imagined for Zapfino to help up and down the elevator. Her illustrations are subtly packed with emotion and story. It may be black and white, but it is still very entertaining. I can see imaginative little readers spending hours with this book imagining back stories for all the many elevator riders. And I liked the ending, too. There's a freedom from facing your fears. And that though Zapfino proves he could do the circus act, he's satisfied with a quieter life. The limelight isn't the best place for everyone, regardless of their talent, and that's ok. I don't know how I missed the release of this book last year. I really like both Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee but I didn't see anything about this book anywhere until I found it at the public library on vacation. It's cute and would be a great launching point to talk about facing fears or even talking to high schoolers about job selection.
November 9, 2025
I agree with reviewer Bethe, I don't get it.
Was the Great Zapfino a circus guy first or an elevator operator? Is he a circus guy imagining he was an elevator operator whose toaster burned toast and he had to jump out a high window?
and to the reviewer who said the book means that your fears follow you no matter where you go in life or how old you get, isn't that a scary notion for kids?? or is the point that you should be brave because you'll feel great when you conquer your fears?
I think the point is that Marla Frazee is an excellent artist and I'll pick up any book she illustrates!
Also, very funny author bios:
Mac Barnett has been to the circus and Marla Frazee has a dog named Toaster.
ok...I needed to look up an interview by these two authors and found one on NPR:
BARNETT: Yeah, I think that protagonists who are uncomfortable in their books - that's always interested me, feeling a little out of step, a little alienated, even from the book that you're in. And failure, I think, is interesting to me over and over again. I love to write about characters not rising to the challenge, at least the first time they try something, and really spend time with them dealing with that.
FRAZEE: I think one of the things I appreciated so much about it is that it is brave to say, no, I'm not ready. You know, and that's not a story that's told very often to us as we're growing up.
Was the Great Zapfino a circus guy first or an elevator operator? Is he a circus guy imagining he was an elevator operator whose toaster burned toast and he had to jump out a high window?
and to the reviewer who said the book means that your fears follow you no matter where you go in life or how old you get, isn't that a scary notion for kids?? or is the point that you should be brave because you'll feel great when you conquer your fears?
I think the point is that Marla Frazee is an excellent artist and I'll pick up any book she illustrates!
Also, very funny author bios:
Mac Barnett has been to the circus and Marla Frazee has a dog named Toaster.
ok...I needed to look up an interview by these two authors and found one on NPR:
BARNETT: Yeah, I think that protagonists who are uncomfortable in their books - that's always interested me, feeling a little out of step, a little alienated, even from the book that you're in. And failure, I think, is interesting to me over and over again. I love to write about characters not rising to the challenge, at least the first time they try something, and really spend time with them dealing with that.
FRAZEE: I think one of the things I appreciated so much about it is that it is brave to say, no, I'm not ready. You know, and that's not a story that's told very often to us as we're growing up.
July 23, 2022
This is a mostly wordless picture book, and I usually don't like those. And sure enough, I did not like this.
Without words, I didn't understand what the character was feeling. The book opens on Zapfino as a circus performer, and he is scared. Why is he scared? Has he never done this before? Did someone force him to do it? Did he promise someone he would do it? He runs away and becomes and elevator operator. Is he sad? Did he let his friends at the circus down? Aren't they wondering where he went? Is he bored in his new job, or satisfied? Is he a child? Is this child labor? He burns some toast, which apparently sets the building on fire, and he has to jump, just like he did in the circus. He executes a flawless jump. Does this make him proud? Is he sad that he spent all that time as a bored elevator operator instead of a circus performer? Did this entire thing take place in his head? Why does burning toast necessitate jumping out of a 10th floor window, anyway?? When my oldest was young, she was TERRIFIED of the house burning down, so this definitely would not have been a good choice for a bedtime story.
The elevator scenes were cute, but the rest of it was not great.
Without words, I didn't understand what the character was feeling. The book opens on Zapfino as a circus performer, and he is scared. Why is he scared? Has he never done this before? Did someone force him to do it? Did he promise someone he would do it? He runs away and becomes and elevator operator. Is he sad? Did he let his friends at the circus down? Aren't they wondering where he went? Is he bored in his new job, or satisfied? Is he a child? Is this child labor? He burns some toast, which apparently sets the building on fire, and he has to jump, just like he did in the circus. He executes a flawless jump. Does this make him proud? Is he sad that he spent all that time as a bored elevator operator instead of a circus performer? Did this entire thing take place in his head? Why does burning toast necessitate jumping out of a 10th floor window, anyway?? When my oldest was young, she was TERRIFIED of the house burning down, so this definitely would not have been a good choice for a bedtime story.
The elevator scenes were cute, but the rest of it was not great.
July 7, 2022
This book is tall in many ays, including the talents of the creative pair. Its wordless, black-and-white, simply-sketched approach uses full pages to emphasize the "big" moments, (facing a showcase HIIIIGH dive into a tiny trampoline, then again the realize equivalent at the end of the story. It uses small sequential boxes and partial pages throughout Zapfino's journey intones own life goals and satisfactions,moftne within the tiny box of the legation he operates. DO NOT neglect the details in any of these images- they re where the magic happens. Also, for anyone of any age who feels goals being pressed upon then, or sense the challenge of having particular talents/skill without a matching internal caribe to use them in conventional ways, this is a book offering both entertainment and life-lessons.
October 15, 2022
I love it when my students start to realize styles of an author. When I said we had read other Mac Barnet books and asked if they could recall, it made them excited about this one. They were confused as to whether the circus was a dream? Or was jumping out of the window a flash back? We never could really decide.
This book is mostly wordless. Zapfino never says anything. I had the students volunteer to tell the story on each page that was wordless. The things they notice are amazing. Not giving Zapfino any dialogue or text made it more relatable for the students, I think. They could be Zapfino.
This could make for a great discussion about how we need to face our fears eventually.
My students are always taken by black and white illustrations and ask why the author made it look like that. Usually what they ask is why did he make it so old?
This book is mostly wordless. Zapfino never says anything. I had the students volunteer to tell the story on each page that was wordless. The things they notice are amazing. Not giving Zapfino any dialogue or text made it more relatable for the students, I think. They could be Zapfino.
This could make for a great discussion about how we need to face our fears eventually.
My students are always taken by black and white illustrations and ask why the author made it look like that. Usually what they ask is why did he make it so old?
April 20, 2022
Lots to love about this almost wordless picture book with lots of layers first off the fantastic name ZAPFINO! It rings all things circus and magical. The Great Zapfino is announced at the circus that he will leap from a ten-story platform onto a teeny tiny trampoline for the crowd's entertainment, but he doesn't. Instead, he flees the circus boards a plane and finds a new life as an elevator operator in a building with you guessed it ten floors. The black and white pencil drawings draw the reader in especially the individual collages of those who use the elevator - lots to enjoy there. Readers have to read to the end to find out if and how Zapfino faces his fears. Another wonderful story mentoring how to elicit a topic by showing and not telling.
May 17, 2022
I love both Marlee Frazee and Mac Barnett so I was pretty sure I would love this book -- and I did! The Great Zapfino is going to amaze you with his ability to dive from a platform ten stories high into a trampoline positioned below -- only it's really, really high! So - Zapfino runs away and becomes an elevator man instead.
The book does have words at the beginning -- the ringmaster introducing the Great Zapfino's act - but then it transitions to a wordless book. I spent a long time looking at all the illustrations of the different people riding the elevator with Zapfino.
There is a fire in the book though it is mostly lots of black smoke - no one is harmed but if you will want to be prepared if you have littles that might be upset by the thought of escaping from a fire.
The book does have words at the beginning -- the ringmaster introducing the Great Zapfino's act - but then it transitions to a wordless book. I spent a long time looking at all the illustrations of the different people riding the elevator with Zapfino.
There is a fire in the book though it is mostly lots of black smoke - no one is harmed but if you will want to be prepared if you have littles that might be upset by the thought of escaping from a fire.
April 12, 2022
I adore all the heart poured into the creation of this book. Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee are a brilliant storytelling team. They created a story where the book itself is a performance that plays with expectation and surprise. It reads as a silent film filled with life moments, expression and emotion. It's masterful. The Great Zapfino, a little circus performer, takes a great leap to find his perfect place in the world. If you're brave enough to read a book that allows the illustrations to tell the story as the book goes wordless, you'll be delighted with all the heart this story has to offer.
May 7, 2022
BEHOLD!!! This comical story begins with a bubble announcement by the ringmaster at the circus, setting the stage for the amazing dare devil, Zapfino. But Zapfino is too scared to complete the task at hand! Cartoon-style penciled sketches tell a story that kids will want to view, over and over again! Circus goers and readers will ponder where did Zapfino go! He was to offer the crowd an amazing view of him falling to a tiny trampoline ten terrifying stories below. How did he retreat so quickly and why did he not complete the challenge?
He, no doubt, thinks to himself he must find another job!
Readers will be proud of Zapfino as he learns to face his fears and overcome his acrophobia. When his life truly is in danger, three cheers for Zapfino’s gigantic accomplishment. Due to a heroic act, he was awarded the big Z to wear on his uniform. See how Zapfino finds purpose and learns to overcome his fears!
What becomes of Zapfino? Success, satisfaction, and strength in character! And just possibly, this book can be a guide for readers to stay strong and committed to confronting their fears! Strength of character and success is just around the corner!
He, no doubt, thinks to himself he must find another job!
Readers will be proud of Zapfino as he learns to face his fears and overcome his acrophobia. When his life truly is in danger, three cheers for Zapfino’s gigantic accomplishment. Due to a heroic act, he was awarded the big Z to wear on his uniform. See how Zapfino finds purpose and learns to overcome his fears!
What becomes of Zapfino? Success, satisfaction, and strength in character! And just possibly, this book can be a guide for readers to stay strong and committed to confronting their fears! Strength of character and success is just around the corner!
January 23, 2024
Zapfino is a lil' guy in a big circus and his job is to jump from ten stories high onto a small trampoline. With all eyes on him and the spotlight glaring, will Zapfino take the perilous jump?
The illustrations are so good in this, really helping you to feel what Zapfino feels. Can he make the jump? Maybe that's not the right question. Maybe he is able to, but with all eyes on him will he? The answer is clear when he runs away from the circus to work as an elevator guy. While resting and waiting for his toast to pop up, a fire starts. He's on one of the upper floors of a tall hotel, what will he do now?
The illustrations are so good in this, really helping you to feel what Zapfino feels. Can he make the jump? Maybe that's not the right question. Maybe he is able to, but with all eyes on him will he? The answer is clear when he runs away from the circus to work as an elevator guy. While resting and waiting for his toast to pop up, a fire starts. He's on one of the upper floors of a tall hotel, what will he do now?
May 28, 2022
I feel like this black-and-white picture book is a risk that pays off big time. Zapfino is a circus performer who flees when he is about to leap “ten stories” onto a trampoline. He then becomes an elevator operator with very entertaining daily interactions, and is faced with his fear again when his toaster catches fire in his tenth story apartment. The pencil sketches in this captivating book are as much a part of the storytelling as the words. A very impactful read for children and their caregivers.
August 10, 2023
I definitely did not see where this story was going. I kept wondering if he really did leave the circus or is this some strange dream or?? I do love the illustrations though and how the motion of the story comes across so well in how the images are set up. The full pages of multiple cells that have a different elevator scenes in each were particularly nice! I guess it was just that in the end he tried to escape what he was scared of and ended up facing it anyways. The story is a little ambiguous to me, but love the illustrations!
April 28, 2022
There is nothing like a good picture book spread where in the span of two pages you can see a complete change of attitude in a character! Zapfino reminds me of the bunny in the Pixar short Presto -- oh yes, we'll perform, but we have our limits! I love the detail Marla Frazee puts into her pencil illustrations. I would go to that circus, or if I met Zapfino in his new role i would love to hear his stories, old and new.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews