Topsy’s Big Escape is a “Fun Story of a Bygone Era”

Warm praise is in for Topsy’s Big Escape, a debut picture book by Bill Shomo! Kirkus Reviews calls it “a fun story of a bygone era.” The mostly true story of a runaway circus elephant, beautifully illustrated by Tim Knickerbocker, publishes in March.

Here’s the review:

From 1907 to 1938, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was one of the biggest in the world, and its star attraction was an elephant named Topsy. In North Carolina in 1922, Topsy was spooked by a barking dog and “broke loose from her chains, ran into the night and disappeared into the heart of downtown Wilmington.” After a brief rampage through town, including a moment when she tried to drink from vats at a local dye factory, Topsy found herself sinking into the mud of a nearby lake. Wilmington police officer Leon George arrived on the scene and “with some kind words, a few apples, peanuts, and hay, he coaxed Topsy out of the sticky slime,” allowing her to be captured and returned to the circus. Now, the anniversary of Topsy’s escape is an annual celebration in downtown Wilmington. Knickerbocker’s watercolor-style illustrations are appealing, done mostly in sepia tones with occasional bright pops of color. The story feels somewhat overly long at times … but it’s charming overall, and makes clear why circuses no longer include elephant acts.

Read the full review here.