Preschool
Book ListsLanguage Arts
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Although the circus is nearly a thing of the past, it still makes a fantastic theme for your preschool classroom!
You can implement everything from fine and gross motor skills to math and science, but most importantly, you can incorporate so many amazing books into a circus theme!
There are circus books for preschoolers that will have your young children laughing all the way through, there are those that teach us a lesson, and there are books about the circus that simply show us what is possible when we use our imaginations.
There are so many great children’s books that it’s almost overwhelming, but today, we’ve compiled a list of a few of our favorite books about the circus to get you started!
Books About the Circus for Preschoolers
Peter Spier’s Circus by Peter Spier
Have you ever wondered what it would take to put on a full circus?
Or are you wanting to show your preschoolers how the circus used to travel?
Either way, Peter Spier’s Circus is a great circus book that you’re going to want to add to your collection.
Circus Opposites: An Interactive Extravaganza! by Suse MacDonald
If there is one thing that your preschoolers are going to love more than a fun circus book, it’s an interactive circus book!
With flaps, tabs, and other fun interactive elements, your students will have the opportunity to work on opposites like in and out and big and small while exploring the circus along the way!
Miss Bindergarten Plans a Circus with Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to plan a circus of your own?
Can you image how much fun you would have?
Well, Miss Bindergarten and her entire kindergarten class are doing just that and they’re taking you along!
Your preschoolers are going to absolutely love learning about the circus while working through the letters of the alphabet!
Harold’s Circus by Crockett Johnson
If you’ve taught preschoolers for any length of time, chances are, you’ve read your fair share of Harold and the Purple Crayon.
It’s a classic story full of imagination and now, Harold is back and going to the circus!
Do you want to be a lion tamer? How about a circus performer? The possibilities are endless when you have a purple crayon and a little imagination.
You See a Circus, I See… by Mike Downs
If you’re looking for a book to kick off your circus theme that also conveys a deeper message, this is the book for you!
A little boy that lives with the circus decides to show his friends what it’s like to live under the big top and in the process teaches both his friends and the reader that families come in all shapes and sizes.
If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss
I bet you’ve never heard of a Drum-Tummied Snum or a Juggling Jott, but you and your preschoolers are about the introduced to them as you read through If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss.
With its fantastical creatures and imaginative story, this book is a must have for every preschool circus theme!
Paddington Bear at the Circus by Michael Bond
The circus is full of amazing animals and talented performers like tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, and lion tamers that can put on some crazy shows, but when Paddington Bear thinks they’re in trouble and tries to help, things get even crazier!
And if there is one thing that is sure to delight your preschoolers, it’s the chaos that only Paddington Bear can create!
See the Circus by H. A. Rey
A classic book with beautiful, old fashioned illustrations, See the Circus is an excellent choice for those preschoolers that are also working on rhyming.
What all will you find when you see the circus?
Well, your preschoolers will just have to lift the flaps to find out!
Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer
What would you do if you went to the circus only to find that all of the circus performers were out sick?
Well, if you’re anything like Olivia, you’re just going to have to take over and become a part of the show!
Kids of all ages love reading this story and learning that anything is possible when you use your imagination!
Circus by Lois Ehlert
From the illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Lois Ehlert, comes this gorgeous adventure inside the circus tent.
Your preschoolers are going to absolutely love visiting the circus with Ehlert’s depictions of marching snakes, leaping lizards, and the world’s biggest circus elephant covering every single page.
The Secret Circus by Johanna Wright
When we think about the circus, we tend to think big.
A big red and white tent, big animals, and even bigger performances.
But The Secret Circus is going to teach you and your preschoolers that sometimes the biggest surprises can come in some really small packages.
The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
What happens when circus animals move into a town?
Well, they blend in, of course, and make some new friends along the way.
This entertaining tale is the perfect addition to your next circus theme and is a fantastic way to teach them about the bonds of community and the importance of having your friends’ backs.
