Who Put the B in the Ballyhoo?
Kindergarten-Grade 4–This is a visually appealing, well-designed, clearly written, but ultimately problematic book. Beccia uses mixed-media digital art to create a tribute to the circus. Although the book jacket states that this book will take readers back to a time when the circus was a primary form of entertainment, no other expository material is provided to indicate when, where, or if this is an accurate statement. The framed, full-page illustrations are intended to resemble circus posters, but the identical retro feel comes across whether the act depicted is from the 1830s or the 1980s. The posters are arranged alphabetically, although the words selected to represent each letter are rarely exclusively circus related, other than the B is for Ballyhoo. There is no chronological order, and while years are sometimes mentioned in the brief sentences underneath the posters, often they are not. Posters feature Siamese twins, a bearded lady, and a contortionist. There is no much-needed introduction or afterword to place things in historical perspective. The book certainly serves as a colorful introduction, but a more balanced view of the circus experience is called for.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.