The rascals from the world’s friendliest family circus are back in the second installment of this “smafunderful”* fully illustrated series.
Everyone knows Sir Sidney’s Circus is the best in the world. But who’s the star of the show? The Circus Times is having a contest to find out. Just thinking about it gives Sir Sidney a worrywart, and it’s quickly clear why. Soon after he goes off to rest, the performers start thinking too much about winning the trophy and not enough about putting on a good show.
Meanwhile, it looks as if ringmaster-in-training Barnabas Brambles might need some help managing the crew, so Bert and Gert, the sly brother-and-sister mice who travel with the show, set out to write a book to teach him how it’s done.
Does Bert and Gert’s plan work? And who is the star of the circus? All will be revealed in The Greatest Star on Earth.
*Kirkus Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
You Can't Spell "Circus" Without "us"
By Pop Bop
This is the second book in the "Three-Ring Rascals" series, which follows the antics of Sir Sidney's Circus, the best circus in the world.In the first volume,The Show Must Go On! (Three-Ring Rascals), Sir Sidney hired Barnabas Brambles to work as the manager of the circus. Barnabas turned out to be greedy and nasty, and has been referred to in every succeeding book as having once been the meanest man in the world. Nevertheless Sir Sidney didn't give up on Barnabas and worked to help Barnabas improve himself. Many have commented on the themes of kindness, generosity, second chances, and forgiveness that shine through in book one.This second volume involves a competition among the circus performers to see who is the "star" of the circus, and ends up as a tale of cooperation, teamwork and family solidarity. Barnabas does some backsliding in Sir Sidney's absence, and so the performers, especially Bert and Gert, the circus mice, have to remind him about a few golden rules. The performers ruin their acts by trying to hog the spotlight, so teamwork and cooperation also figure heavily. The performers are presented as normal and decent characters who occasionally mess up, are forgiven, and try to do better. The books aren't terribly heavy-handed about any of this;So, these aren't just "message" books, although they aren't shy about making points about kindness, patience, and cooperation. They are gentle, forgiving and upbeat. They are also funny, silly, charming, colorful and energetic books with wacky characters and situations, that just happen to include a positive sub-text, so don't worry that these will be all preachy finger wagging. While the positive lessons are there, they are seamlessly blended in with wisecracks, jokes, silly banter, wisecracking mice and a lot of sight gags. There are a lot of jokes slipped in to the abundant illustrations, and some of the asides from the mice in the margins have a bit of snap to them.This is a great book as a read-to or a read with, or as a first book for an early reader. Laughs and some sly wit keep it interesting for Mom or Dad. And the whole enterprise is colorful and upbeat. A nice find.Please note that I downloaded this book for free from my local elibrary. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.Four Stars
By Sarah Holst
Great sequel. My third graders loved it.
