I don’t read a lot of picture books, though I occasionally page through my own childhood favorites or read with my friends’ two-year-old daughter. But when I saw that The Children’s Book Cellar in Waterville ME was hosting an event with Chris Van Dusen, author and illustrator of THE CIRCUS SHIP, I knew I had to be there. Firstly, because I have a current obsession with circuses. And secondly, because I’ve long wanted to visit The Children’s Book Cellar, which is one of two (I think?) dedicated children’s bookstores in Maine, and is run by the marvelous Ellen Richmond.
Accordingly I ventured forth on Saturday after Thanksgiving with my mom and dad (Bob was working). The store itself was bright and colorful and welcoming: perfect for a children’s bookstore. And I found lots of great books featured on the shelves. Here are two I was particularly happy to see:
Kate Messner’s lovely contemporary middle grade THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z and Kate Coomb’s middle grade fantasy THE RUNAWAY DRAGON (currently on my to-read list).
We roamed around the store for a bit as dozens of other patrons lined up to get copies of THE CIRCUS SHIP signed. We ended up meeting Chris Van Dusen’s very charming wife, and my parents discovered a number of mutual acquaintances (the Van Dusens live in the same area we did when I was a kid). Eventually there was a reading, which seemed to enthrall the kids (and the adults) who were on hand:
I was reading along in my copy, so I could get a close look at all the fantastic illustrations. I have always loved best those sorts of illustrations — the ones rich with little quirks and hidden details. The story itself is also utterly charming, and it was fascinating to hear Chris talk about the (sad) real-world inspiration (a ship of circus animals that was lost off the Maine coast) and how he wanted to turn it into something joyful with a happy ending. I love seeing how writers play with reality, shaping it and turning it into something new that feeds our dreams.
So if you are looking for a picture book to give as a gift this holiday season, I highly recommend THE CIRCUS SHIP. It’s colorful, fun to read, and uplifting. Plus, Chris was a warm, generous and just plain nice guy. Thank you Chris and Ellen for a wonderful and inspiring book event!
