ABOUT THIS BOOK

This new addition to the Badger Biography series for young readers features the story of the young Ringling brothers of circus fame. The book tells the inspiring story of the seven sons of German and French immigrants who were guided by their dreams to escape poverty through hard work and ambition. These entrepreneurial brothers moved with their parents to Baraboo, Wisconsin where their fantastic circus adventure began. With no circus experience, the brothers tackled one of the riskiest businesses of the time. Each brother contributed his unique talents to make their enterprise successful. The Ringling Brothers were admired for their technological innovations, strategy and devotion to education. They were also esteemed for their genuine appreciation of their audience.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Jerry Apps is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 15 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include Ringlingville USA, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse-Drawn Days, Old Farm, Every Farm Tells a Story, Country Wisdom, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room County Schools, Cheese, and Breweries of Wisconsin. His children's picture books include Stormy and Eat Rutabagas. Jerry has won numerous awards for his writing from the Wisconsin Library Association, The Council for Wisconsin Writers, Robert E. Gard Foundation, Upper Midwest Booksellers Association, Barnes and Noble Bookstores, and the Wisconsin Historical Society, among others.

REVIEWS

"Jerry Apps recalls for me the poignant memories of good times and camaraderie when I worked on the circus 1937 through 1941." (Paul Ringling, grandson of Alf T. Ringling. Paul worked for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus when it was managed by John Ringling North)

"Mr. Apps captured the spirit of the brothers who had a dream, worked together, and persevered to become one of the largest circuses in the world. Not only is this biography a wonderfully entertaining story, but it's narrated in a way that makes the reader feel a part of the growing excitement and adventure of developing a circus. Even though the vocabulary and captivating factual information is geared towards children, this is a book that can be enjoyed by young and old alike because it does resurrect that child in all of us!" (Barbara Bellmer, art specialist and teacher at Brandon School, Brandon, WI)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[contents page iv]
[ART: FM-01, poster of thriller act with cars, set on lh page facing Contents]
Contents
				
@CN:1. The Idea for a Circus	XX 	
2. Putting the Show on the Road	XX				
3. The First Ringling Big Top		XX		
4. A Circus on the Rails	XX			
5. Meet the Ringling Brothers		XX		
6. The Ringling Menagerie	XX			
7. Winter Quarters	XX			
Afterword	XX
				
Appendix 	XX
 The Ringling Brothers	XX
 Ringling Timeline	XX
Glossary	XX
Reading Group Guide and Activities	XX
To Learn More about the Circus	XX
Acknowledgments	XX
Index	XX