I definitely did not see where this story was going. I kept wondering if he really did leave the circus or is this some strange dream or?? I do love the illustrations though and how the motion of the story comes across so well in how the images are set up. The full pages of multiple cells that have a different elevator scenes in each were particularly nice! I guess it was just that in the end he tried to escape what he was scared of and ended up facing it anyways. The story is a little ambiguous to me, but love the illustrations! ( )

Oh fun! Someone who doesn't want to jump off a ladder ten stories up (who would).....so instead flees and goes to be a bellboy at a hotel. =) SO cute!

And of course, the end result is about conquering fear. Lesson for everyone! ( )

A circus performer runs from his death-defying stunt for safer work but finds he still must face his fears. Cute and funny.

(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.) ( )

The Great Zapfino flees the circus rather than perform a terrifying leap. He runs away and makes a new life for himself as a hotel elevator operator, but when a fire starts in the building, all of his courage is required to make the same kind of leap he ran away from in the beginning - this time to save his life. Old-timey black and white pencil illustrations give the book a silent-film feel.

See also: The Farmer and the Clown ( )

A fabulous wordless book! Great pencil drawings and a wonderful surprise ending! Mac Barnett is a genius! and his partner in crime Marla Frazee is an extraordinary illustrator! This is a delightful book to be read over and over again!

What a delight! I read this to everyone I could get to sit still! Wonderful illustration, great story, and a good laugh! Lots to look at in the fabulous artwork. Highly recommend! ( )