"Joyful illustrations...will give children, especially those who have never experienced a circus parade of big-top performance, a good idea of what it was like back then." —Booklist
"As Esbaum moves the duo from backstage to the choice seats in the Big Top, she handily captures the flavor of pre-electricity days, especially in her use of vintage vernacular (Benny remarks at one auspicious moment, "I was so bumfuzzled, I couldn't unwind my tongue") . Gordon's . . . big scenes--the unloading of the circus train, the big parade down Main Street--bustle with a sense of sweep and head pleasure." —Starred, Publishers Weekly
"Gordon...lights up the event, bringing prime elements of the story forward, dressed in electric color, and painting the background in a haze; the illustrations' almost-can-taste-it, dreamlike quality takes readers to Back Then, when midway and sideshow were the real deal." —Kirkus Reviews
“Gordon’s vibrant illustrations depict the historical element while also conveying the dynamic relationship between the two friends. An inviting slice of Americana.” —School Library Journal
