Kids Perform Circus Arts. Bobbie Kalman. Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree, 1997. 32 pp, hardcover, $16.76 (cl), $7.16 (pbk). ISBN 0-86505-630-7 (cl), ISBN 0-86505-739-3 (pbk). Subject Headings: Circus-Juvenile literature. Acrobatics-Juvenile literature. Grades 3 - 7 / Ages 8 - 12. Review by Irene Gordon. **** /4

Kids Perform Circus Arts shares the wonderful production values of the other books in the "Crabapples" series. Colourful and well-illustrated, it has a good index, table of contents and glossary. It is a book that any students who have ever enjoyed watching clowns, jugglers or other circus performers should find interesting; but it is geared towards students who are interested in attending classes to learn how to perform.

      The book describes clowning, juggling, acrobatics, balancing and trapeze acts. It is illustrated with pictures of students at several circus camps and schools, including the National Circus School of Canada. Much emphasis is put on safety. Clowning is described as follows:

Clowns are a fun part of the circus. There are
three types: white face, auguste, and character.
A white-face clown has a white face and neck.
Auguste clowns wear colorful, silly costumes.
Character clowns wear everyday clothes. You
can create a combination of all three.

Most clowns do not talk. They use gestures and
facial expressions to communicate. This type of
clowning is called pantomiming or miming.

Clowns will do anything to make people laugh.
They play tricks and act silly. They might even
hang upside-down to get a chuckle!

Irene Gordon is a teacher-librarian who retired last June after spending 14 years working in a junior high school library in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is presently co-editor of the Manitoba School Library Association Journal and is trying to establish a new career as a free-lance writer.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © 1998 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - SEPTEMBER 4, 1998.

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