Sidewalk Circus, by Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes - Picturebook

Reading Sidewalk Circus really makes you stop and want to stare at the things surrounding you. I read this story, with the intent of working through it quickly, and found myself much later, still studying every picture. Paul Fleischman has really capitalized on the concept of how when we lead busy lives, we stop observing. Here is this little girl, who is later replaced by a little boy, who is just “people-watching” as she/he waits to get on the bus (an elepahant). While waiting, they see a fantastic circus show that really is only an everyday occurrence on this part of the block. A man selling newspapers becomes the Ring Master, workmen walking on steel beams become tightrope walkers, a woman flipping pancakes becomes a juggler, and many, many more. How very like a child to sit back and observe what we adults would probably never see because we are too busy rushing places and multitasking. The beauty of this book is really in the background and shadows of the figures that we see. It is in the background that you see the circus performers come out. You see the haphazardly boys on skateboards turn into clowns and you see a dog on a leash become a lion. I especially like the dentist “sword swallowers” act, because there really is no need to imagine, going to the dentist really does look like that (and feels like that sometimes, too)!

The illustrator made the comment that while he was working on this book, he spent a lot of time in Portland, Maine, watching all the action going on in the city. He thanked Paul Fleicshman for “opening his eyes” to all the things going on in the city. I would like to thank Paul Fleischman for opening my eyes, also. I sit and rush through life, trying to get as much accomplished as possible, and never really noticing the beauty, mystery, and excitement of what could really be happening around me and allow my imagination to take my reality into a world of controlled fantasy.

This is what I consider to be the true definition of a picture book. In this we have a story being played out with the pictures, and the words only helping. Usually you have the story being played out in words and the pictures only helping. I found myself really wanting to be sitting at this bus stop, witnessing the “sidewalk circus” through this little girl’s eyes. I thought that the inclusion of the little boy at the end, after the little girl had boarded the bus and left (or hopped on the circus elephant and rode away), was making an important statement. This type of “circus” could happen for anyone anywhere, you just have to open your eyes and mind and see beyond what is really occurring.

The use of acrylic in the pictures was an interesting move, because they let the reader see that these people in the story could be real, but really are not. So, the perspective of reality being imagined into fantasy is there. City streets really do not have that “beauty” that these pictures have brought out, but isn’t that where our imagination takes us anyway. We never remember things exactly as they occurred, but with an embellished sense to them, one way or another.

I have paid a lot of money going to a circus before, now I know that I can get a great show, just by sitting on a block in my town and watching what happens in the shadows and behind the scenes.