CIRCUS

A tour of the big top, with scores of flaps to lift. The colorful surprises in Munro’s book begin with the inside cover, where a striped tent can be lifted to reveal a clown holding several strings and a ringmaster in a top hat. Lift the clown and discover the author’s name spelled out on balloons. Lift the ringmaster’s hat and it tips in welcome. The reader gets to visit virtually every member of the circus family: trapeze artists, trained horses, acrobats, high-wire walkers, elephants, lions and their tamers. Many of the flaps have extra discoveries—the high-wire bicyclist rides all the way from one side of his two-page spread to the other via a multi-fold flap. The penultimate picture features two flaps that open to reveal the entire circus spread over four pages. There’s very little text, but each two-page spread features a Waldo-esque challenge to find various items. A winning concept expertly executed; could become a young child’s favorite book. (Picture book. 2-7)