Check It Out

Books recommended for young readers by Ilene Abramson, senior librarian for the children’s literature department, Los Angeles Public Library:

“The Greatest Show on Earth” will be enhanced when you juggle these books about circuses with a trip to the big top.

Preschool: “My Mother’s Secret Life,” by Rebecca Emberley

A little girl dreams that she goes to the circus, gets into trouble, and just when she needs help, her acrobatic mother swoops down from a trapeze to rescue her.

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Kindergarten and first grade: “Peter Spier’s Circus!” by Peter Spier

The Caldecott Medalist provides detailed sketches that take children behind the scenes to view an international cast of performers.

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Second and third grade: “Emeline at the Circus,” by Marjorie Priceman

Ms. Splinter takes her second-grade class to the circus and dutifully explains all the acts, not realizing that one of her rambunctious pupils has joined the show.

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Fourth grade: “Pippi Goes to the Circus,” by Astrid Lingren, pictures by Michael Chesworth

Pippi Longstocking is unaware of what goes on at the “sirkus,” and the circus is equally amazed at the redhead’s antics.

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Fifth grade: “Survival! Train Wreck, Kansas 1892,” by K. Duey and K.A. Bale

Two circus performers must summon their courage and rely on their skills in order to capture the animals that escape when a train derails.

Story Time

Some of the books to be read on KCET’s “Story Time,” Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

* “Amazing Grace,” by Mary Hoffman

Grace is excited about trying out for the class performance of “Peter Pan.” But she also is discouraged by the children in her class, who tell her she cannot play the role of Peter Pan because Peter isn’t a girl and isn’t black. Her mother and Nana tell her that she can be anything she wants to be, and Grace continues to practice hard to audition for the part despite what the other children say to her. Themes: uniqueness,

differences, determination and self-esteem.

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* “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” by Laura Joffe Numeroff

A mouse arrives at a boy’s house and asks him for a cookie. When this request is granted, a new one is made, and the boy ends up being led all over the house, doing a series of chores for his visitor. Theme: sequence of events.