Tree Ring Circus

Adam Rex Tree Ring Circus; illus. by the author. 32pp/Harcourt Children’s Books 2006 ISBN 0-15-205363-8 $16.00 (Preschool)


The instant classic Tree Ring Circus by Adam Rex (Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich) is a story young and old can enjoy. The small seed, planted just out of town, grows into a “fast-growing” tree, which is a home for numerous animals, including a runaway clown sitting atop the tree. Rex masterfully illustrates his story using detailed oils and mixed media on paper. The pictures and words alike are all set in a circus motif that jumps out at the reader on nearly every page. Rex takes the readers on a hilarious counting trip through the growth and destruction of a tree “three miles out of town.” Tree Ring Circus is a wonderfully simple story with beautiful detailed pictures with animals that seem to come to life. Children will want to read and examine it many times over.

Brittany Eckhart, BGSU student