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Quick answer: The best picture Books About the Circus include Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer, Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully, The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
The circus is full of acrobats, clowns, tightropes and animals, and it makes a wonderful setting for picture books. These stories celebrate courage, performing and imagination, and they include classic and modern favourites.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olivia Saves the Circus | Ian Falconer | 3-7 | fans of big imaginations |
| Mirette on the High Wire | Emily Arnold McCully | 5-9 | kids learning courage |
| The Circus Ship | Chris Van Dusen | 4-8 | rhyme lovers |
| Peter Spier's Circus! | Peter Spier | 3-7 | kids who love detailed pictures |
| Circus | Lois Ehlert | 3-6 | fans of bold art |
| Spot Goes to the Circus | Eric Hill | 1-4 | toddlers |
| Clifford at the Circus | Norman Bridwell | 3-7 | Clifford fans |
| If I Ran the Circus | Dr. Seuss | 4-8 | Seuss fans |
| Emeline at the Circus | Marjorie Priceman | 4-8 | funny story fans |
| Bear Circus | William Pène du Bois | 4-8 | classic fans |
| The Circus Baby | Maud and Miska Petersham | 2-6 | the youngest listeners |
| Brian Wildsmith's Circus | Brian Wildsmith | 3-6 | fans of beautiful art |
| Harold's Circus | Crockett Johnson | 3-7 | Harold fans |
| Clown | Quentin Blake | 3-7 | wordless book fans |
| Flora and the Flamingo | Molly Idle | 3-7 | dance fans |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer
Olivia insists she performed every act when the circus performers got sick. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: fans of big imaginations.
2. Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
A girl helps a famous tightrope walker overcome his fear. Recommended ages: about 5-9.
Best for: kids learning courage.
3. The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
Circus animals swim to an island after their ship sinks. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: rhyme lovers.
4. Peter Spier's Circus! by Peter Spier
The circus arrives, sets up and performs. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids who love detailed pictures.
5. Circus by Lois Ehlert
A colourful circus with unusual acts. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: fans of bold art.
6. Spot Goes to the Circus by Eric Hill
Spot chases his ball into the circus. Recommended ages: about 1-4.
Best for: toddlers.
7. Clifford at the Circus by Norman Bridwell
Clifford helps save a struggling circus. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: clifford fans.
8. If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss
Morris imagines the most amazing circus ever. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: seuss fans.
9. Emeline at the Circus by Marjorie Priceman
Emeline accidentally joins the circus acts on a class trip. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: funny story fans.
10. Bear Circus by William Pène du Bois
Koala bears put on a circus to thank their kangaroo friends. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: classic fans.
11. The Circus Baby by Maud and Miska Petersham
A mother elephant tries to feed her baby like the clowns do. Recommended ages: about 2-6.
Best for: the youngest listeners.
12. Brian Wildsmith's Circus by Brian Wildsmith
Bright paintings show circus performers. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: fans of beautiful art.
13. Harold's Circus by Crockett Johnson
Harold draws his own circus with his purple crayon. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: harold fans.
14. Clown by Quentin Blake
A toy clown thrown away finds a new home. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: wordless book fans.
15. Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
A girl and a flamingo copy each other's moves. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: dance fans.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers, start with Spot Goes to the Circus and The Circus Baby. Kids who love funny stories will enjoy Olivia Saves the Circus and Emeline at the Circus, while Mirette on the High Wire is a beautiful story about bravery. For wordless storytelling, Clown and Flora and the Flamingo are excellent.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 1 to 9, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.
Related: The Night Circus Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes)