Fleming, Candace, and Ray Fenwick. 2009. THE GREAT AND ONLY BARNUM: THE TREMENDOUS, STUPENDOUS LIFE OF SHOWMAN P.T. BARNUM. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 0375945977
PLOT SUMMARY
This book is about the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum including his quest for the ultimate showpiece and exhibit, and finally a small explanation of the circus career that makes him so famous. From the history of his family to a personal look at his acquisitions for his American Museum, Barnum’s personality shines through in Candace Fleming’s story of the never-ending quest to satisfy the world’s love of the spectacular.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This biography of Phineas Taylor Barnum lets the reader experience his quest through the historical photographs, advertisement posters, quotes, and dialogue. The vast bibliography and credit section gives readers a chance to explore so many other resources about Barnum.
The illustrations and chapter title pages are all in black and white and mimic circus font and design style. The use of black background to highlight side stories makes the pages more readable in the midst of a mass of text.
The table of contents shows the book’s organization by eleven chapters. Within the chapters the subdivisions are shown in bold, underlined print. The books design is unique in that it draws from the circus theme. There are many pictures that students could browse with accompanying captions and the index makes this book easy to use for research.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist starred 06/01/09
New York Times 12/06/09
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 10/01/09
School Library Journal 09/01/09
Horn book 04/01/10
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 08/01/09
Kirkus Review starred 08/15/09
Wilson’s Junior High School 01/09/10
Publishers Weekly (August 32, 2009) “Audiences will step right up to this illuminating and thorough portrait of an entertainment legend.”
School Library Journal (September 1, 2009) “Fleming captures Barnum's exuberant personality and describes how his gift for promotion and dedication to delivering what the public wanted made him the world's most famous showman.”
CONNECTIONS
Fennell, Frederick. 1991. SCREAMERS: (CIRCUS MARCHES); & MARCH TIME. New York: Mercury Records. LCCN 23444656
· Partner this sound recording to introduce a circus unit.
Edwards, Wallace. 2007. THE PAINTED CIRCUS: P.T. VERMIN PRESENTS A MESMERIZING MENAGERIE OF TRICKERY AND ILLUSION GUARANTEED TO BEGUILE AND BAMBOOZLE THE BEHOLDER! Toronto: Kids Can Press. ISBN 1553377206
· Partner this book to study the circus in a picture book format
McClung, Robert M., and Laura Kelly. 1993. OLD BET AND THE START OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688106420
· Partner this book to examine the history of the American circus
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