"The Wonder Pets summer vacation."

School's out for the summer and the Wonder Pets have some time on their hands. Gazing out the classroom window, Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming notice a circus train in the distance.

Linny suggests the trio quickly build a flying boat to follow after the train and get a closer look. As they hover over the train, Tuck notices a little lion cub is about to fall off the rail car. Dropping down in their flying boat, they rescue the cub before he topples onto the track.

So impressed with the daring rescue, the circus ringmaster asks Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming if they want to become part of the circus. They try it for a short while and also use their skills to save a few more little circus animals who get into trouble,but the fun soon wears off. In the end, the Wonder Pets decide to go back to the classroom where they live and where they are far more comfortable.

Although this is not very clever or a particularly well written children's book, "Join the Circus" will work with preschoolers who watch the television program that features the turtle, guinea pig and duckling. The stress is on teamwork, and the authors do make sure that the reader gets the idea that with teamwork anything is possible.

Fortunately, the book is quite inexpensive and that makes up for some of its major literary shortcomings! So, as the baby animals say, "Hip, hip, hooray!"

Reviewed by Bob Walch
Posted July 18, 2009