The Circus Surprise

by Ralph Fletcher, Vladimir Vagin (Illustrations)

Nick’s parents always have a special surprise for him on his birthday, but this year he knows he’ll have the best birthday ever. Mom and Dad are taking him to the circus! The crowds and attractions are exciting, but Nick is accidentally separated from his parents. Even though he knows what to do if he gets lost, he’s scared—until a green-faced clown on towering stilts comes to his rescue. The bright colors and bustling energy of the circus shine from each of Vladimir Vagin’s lively illustrations in this touching story of a day filled with surprises.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2001

About the author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Reviews

[Lesley Looper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story showed the delights of a childhood visit to the circus, as well a lesson (for children) in what to remember if you get lost. (Okay, riding on the back of a stilt-walking clown while looking for your parents is out of the ordinary, but there's a lesson in there somewhere!)

[Ashlyn Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teaches kids to pay attention and not freak out if they are lost because in the end it will be okay if you remain calm and ask for help.

[Ashlyn Littlefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book because the illustrations were very interesting! It was cool how the pages changed once Nick got on the mans shoulders to show how tall he was!

[jennyreadit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one I would use to introduce kids to the fabulous Ralph Fletcher,nor read again. Missing his use of language that draws the reader in and puts one in the story. I guess because it is an older book, the illustrations are not enticing.... with very few, if any, diverse characters in the scenes. Nick is going to the circus for his birthday and gets lost,so a friendly clown on stilts walks him around until his "lost parents" are located.