(3) K-3 Illustrated by Barbara Cooney. In Cooney's retelling of the medieval French legend, the little orphaned juggler of Notre Dame--having no other gift to bring to the statue of Mary and the Child--entertained them with his tumbling. The telling is dignified and tender, as is the art; black-and-white illustrations alternate with pictures in which bright colors--Christmas red and green and the luminous blue of stained glass--are added. This edition includes Cooney's original foreword and a new afterword by Jan M. Ziolkowski.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: December, 1961

(2) K-3 Store-clerk-by-day Sam moonlights as a (stage fright–suffering) juggler. His daughter Eleanor lavishes attention on stray dog Lucy. By the end of the four-act story, Lucy has found her forever family, and Sam has found his place in the spotlight. Oval-shaped, duotone oil illustrations float amidst white space, the design offering equal weight to both text and image.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(4) 4-6 Master Melville's Medicine Show series. Eleven-year-old Sullivan Mintz is completely average except for his juggling ability. His life is unsatisfactory: he’s either helping his parents run an old-age home or being bullied in school. So is it an improvement when he’s abducted and made to join a traveling circus? Despite flashes of humor and insight, this series debut is cluttered with quirky characters and never quite comes to life.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tom Murphy. Rhyming verse tells of a pug who learns to juggle, becomes famous, indulges in plenty of doggie misbehavior, and nearly gets booted from town. His promise to change appeases the townspeople, but the pug immediately ignores his pledge and poops on a friend's rug. The droll black-line illustrations accented with primary colors are much more diverting than the brief, uneven text.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Crafty Kids series. After instructions for making rice-filled balls and beanbags, the text--printed in a tiny type size--offers step-by-step directions for beginning and more advanced juggling tricks. With a lot of patience and practice, dedicated readers can master the basics. The photos of children demonstrating the moves will encourage readers to try the tricks on their own, and several easy maneuvers will build up their confidence. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anne St. John