IF I RAN THE CIRCUS.

By Theodor S.Geisel (Dr. Seuss) '25. New York: RandomHouse. 1956. 59 pp. $2.50.

Nobody but nobody but Dr. Seuss could dream up a circus such as this. Taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by this medium, the author gives free rein to his imagination. If you have never run up against said imagination, you should do so at once.

Young Morris McGurk imagines a show that puts Ringling Bros, to shame. In the descriptions of this world-shattering performance, the formula remains the same. If it did not, we would be crushed. Imaginary animals, deftly drawn with a minimum of line, cavort through the pages accompanied by easy, though unusual verse. The animals are as incredible as always, and the task of creating new ones each year does not seem to be a problem to Dr. Seuss. Ingenious names continue to be applied to these creatures.

Mr. Sneelock, wearing bedroom slippers, runs a small shop by the simple method of standing sleepily in its door. Before the story is over, young McGurk, owner of the Circus McGurkus, has inserted Mr. Sneelock into nearly every act, winding up with a dive from a great height into a gold fish bowl whose sole occupant looks disturbed. The progress of Sneelock from his store to his final dive adds the faintest touch of a plot to this delightful stretch of the imagination.

One wonders how these books can come out year after year with such a high standard of verse, story, and pictures, but they do. We hope that they will continue to do so.