Circus Animals

Flaps conceal the tricks and triumphs of circus animals; readers can lower the gate so the camels can leave their trailer, make a bike-riding bear stand on his bicycle seat, open a hungry hippo's mouth, or help colorful seals bat a ball back and forth. Some flaps work better than othersthe lion-tamer looks a little too worried as he leans his head into the lion's mouthso an adult may have to do some additional explaining about circuses. Still, this is a cheerful introduction to life under the big top, especially when it's read along with Circus People, Circus 1,2,3 and Circus ABC, the three other books in the new Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey series. (14)