The Clown Said No

At a traditional and predictable circus, the ringmaster enthusiastically introduces the audience to Petronius, “the funniest clown in the world.” When the clown and his donkey sidekick Theodore emerge, they remain still and appear emotionless. The ringmaster insists Petronius play his part, but the clown repeatedly says, “no”. Instead of playing a foolish character, Petronius wants to tell stories. The other animals similarly rebel; instead of doing what they have always been forced to do, they decide to join Petronius and run away from the circus to start one of their own.

Author Mischa Damjan originally wrote and published this book in 1961, but it has been recently illustrated by Torben Kuhlmann. This old-fashioned story may feel too drawn-out for younger readers. The artist remained true to Damian’s traditional style by keeping the images simple but impactful. Although the story is a bit slow, it has a powerful message. Children ages four to eight will learn to be true to themselves and let their unique personality shine.