The Great Zapfino

K-Gr 2–“Behold: The Great Zapfino!” In this nearly wordless tale, Barnett and Frazee depict the story of a former circus performer who decides to explore a safer form of employment. In the beginning, readers see the fearless Zapfino climbing to great heights in his circus performance for an incredible leap. Then he breaks the fourth wall, looks straight at readers, and disappears. He retires to a seemingly quieter life as an elevator attendant in a high-rise building. But his circus training comes in handy in his new life as a toaster fiasco sets the building on fire and he, once again, must make a leap for his life! Readers will revel in Frazee’s black-and-white drawings that transform the intense life-or-death story line to one of whimsy and hilarity. Children will revel in their role of filling in the wordless pages with their own tale of what is happening in Zapfino’s life.