Feeding the Flying Fanellis: And Other Poems from a Circus Chef

Feeding the circus is a tall order, a boyish chef with the face of a porcelain doll reveals. Hosford’s nimble wordplay describes the demands of the circus’s hungry, finicky, and sometimes overindulgent performers: a juggler can’t be served anything round (“He’s growing thin; his plate is bare./ All his food is in the air!”), while a goateed, suit-wearing lion is revealed as a gourmet: “First comes antelope pâté,/ Followed by a consommé.” Kawa’s exuberant illustrations easily keep pace with Hosford’s rhymes, conjuring a memorable cast that also includes a soup-loving dog, homesick Ukrainian strongman, and picky tightrope walker. It’s a highly enjoyable and inventive blend of circus feats and culinary treats. Ages 6–9. Illustrator’s agency: Advocate Art. (Oct.)