Sawdust and Spangles: The Amazing Life of W.C. Coup Review

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(More customer reviews)This picture book biography is based on William Cameron Coup's memoirs; it tells how he began to work for a circus in the early-1850's while he was still in his teens, eventually partnered with P.T. Barnum to create the "P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Circus and Hippodrome", and "developed the system of loading circus equipment on railroad cars" so the circus could travel more easily between towns. The authors of this book explain that they end with his opening of the New York Aquarium because he was so proud of this accomplishment even though in actuality, he soon lost ownership of the aquarium. The text is child-friendly beginning with the words, "Many Years Ago In A Tiny Indiana Town, there lived a small boy with big dreams" and ending with, "for W.C. Coup, there was always a bigger dream to be found." The illustrations perfectly capture the magic of a circus with pictures of clowns, a lion tamer who is wearing a tuxedo and sporting a grand mustache, horseback riders performing acrobatics, and some fantastic creatures that might be found in a side show like a "DOG-FACED BOY" and a "BEARDED LADY". Faces of historical people like P.T. Barnum and Abraham Lincoln are recognizable.

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The first book by beloved children's musician Ralph Covert and esteemed playwright G. Riley MillsMany years ago there lived a little boy with big dreams who ran away with the circus. William Cameron Coup fell in love with the big top and later became one of the most famous circus leaders of all time. But Coup also had another dream: to create a different kind of circus . . .underwater! And so he built the great New York Aquarium—the likes of which had never been seen before! Grammy-nominated children's musician Ralph Covert and award-winning playwright G. Riley Mills have crafted a remarkable slice of Americana, illustrated by celebrated artist Giselle Potter. Complete with tightrope-walking elephants, bearded ladies, and side-splitting clowns, Sawdust and Spangles tells the real story of a man who made all his dreams come true and whose life was as extraordinary as the spectacle he created. Praise for Ralph Covert "One of the freshest, funniest, most original new kids' artists out there" —Family Fun"Covert fearlessly dives into the issues of our day, like imaginary friends and building blocks."—Time Out New York"Welcome to a realm where the nursery rhymes and rhythms appeal to both kids and adults."—St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Clever and often poignant world"—Los Angeles Times Praise for Giselle Potter's worksOppenheim Toy Portfolio Award winnerChildren's Literature Choice ListBank Street College Best BooksPublishers Weekly Best BooksCCBC Choices "Gorgeous, folk-arty watercolors . . ." —Newsweek "Potter's soft, bright paintings feature stylized figures reminiscent of folk art that reinforce the nostalgic feel of the text." —Kirkus /