Last Night I Dreamed a Circus

by Maya Gottfried

Book Overview

Many children dream of going to the circus, but our narrator dreams herself right into the act. She is the graceful horseback rider and the clown. The daring trapeze artist and the dancing dog. The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375823883
• ISBN13: 9780375823886
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.4"
• Age Range: 3 to 6 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 1

Customer Reviews

last night I dreamed a circus

beautiful book, vivid colors and pictures. my class loved this book and asks to see it over and over.

Good book

We took my 3 year old granddaughter to a small circus and she loved it. This book helped to keep the memories alive without being too loud and overpowering. It opened up the opportunity to use her imagination and her memories together.

Tumbling across crisp black backgrounds

Tumbling across crisp black backgrounds, the colorful dreamscapes of artist Robert Rahway Zakanitch weave a magical spell. Each boldly-hued spread in this picture book for pre-readers and new readers is a tribute to a different type of circus performer. But rather than a humdrum explanation of aerialists, clowns, trained animals, and so on, author Maya Gottfried describes each character as if seen through the eyes of a child who fanaticizes of experiencing each event personally. Corresponding with each bright image is a simple prose narration that uses words sparingly to list each spectacular sight with an equally colorful description. And so, in this dreamlike state, a trapeze artist "wore the sunset on a velvet cape," a clown "juggled a rose garden," a gymnast "spun circles round the stars. I'm still not sure what an "elephant of the seven seas" is, though; my five year old daughter was bored midway; and a hideous image of a monkey in a dress still gives both of us the shivers. Ultimately, the book's looks are alluring, but the role call list isn't terribly engaging, despite its poignant wording. Unfortunately, there's simply no story to this storybook.

Vibrant and Imaginative.....

"Last night I dreamed a circus. I spun circles round the stars. And juggled a rose garden..." So begins children's books newcomer, author, Maya Gottfried's, ode to the fun and excitement found under the big top. Her simple, spare, lyrical text is evocative and filled with imagery and magical descriptions that transports the reader into the dream. But it's illustrator, Robert Rahway Zakanitch's bold, bright and vivid watercolors that really makes this picture book a winner. Each dramatic illustration is rich in dazzling color, intricate shapes and patterns, and eye-catching detail, and little ones will want to linger and explore every stunning page. Together word and art offers a vibrant, captivating circus adventure. Perfect for story time, Last Night I Dreamed A Circus is a preschool crowd pleaser that begs to be read aloud and shared.