A Read-Aloud with Chris Van Dusen: Circus Ship

This post is part of a series of videos by Maine-based children’s book authors and illustrators reading aloud. This week, we’re featuring  Chris Van Dusen, author and illustrator of Circus Ship. Doctors in Maine gave Circus Ship to 5-year-olds back in 2017. 

When we selected the beloved storybook as part of the Raising Readers collection, Chris offered this lovely letter to publish in the front of the customized book:

Dear Most Excellent Reader,

First of all, congratulations! If you’re holding this book, it means you’ve reached an important milestone — you have officially graduated from the Raising Readers program. This is a big deal! And you know what? It’s a big deal for me, too, because the book
they chose to celebrate your graduation is one of my books! Neat, huh?

You’ve read a bunch of great books over the years, and now here it is — your final book from your friends at Raising Readers. But don’t worry! You have plenty more reading adventures ahead. Get started at one of the most amazing places in the world — your local LIBRARY! Think about what a wonderful thing a library is: you can go there and pick out all the books you want, and they’ll let you borrow them for free! Even your best friend doesn’t have that many books to share with you.

Speaking of friends, that’s what books are for me: good friends. I miss them when we’re apart and I can’t wait to see them again. I hope The Circus Ship becomes your friend, a friend you come back to over and over. I hope you enjoy the adventure. And I hope you can find all the circus animals hidden in the picture toward the end of the book. A couple are pretty hard to spot!

Best wishes, have fun, and KEEP READING!
Chris Van Dusen

In the spirit of Chris’ letter, we hope you and your family are finding comfort in your book friends!

To see Chris read his book, visit our Facebook Read-Aloud Group by clicking here or on the photo directly below.

But wait–there’s more! (Click on the image to download a printable PDF)

More Books by Chris Van Dusen

Down to the Sea with Mr. McGee
Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit
King Hugo’s Huge Ego
Hattie and Hudson
If I Built a School
A Piglet Named Mercy
And more!