🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Chris Van Dusen
The villagers first hide the animals, making it hard for the circus owner to trace them. After one of the animals made a brave rescue, the islanders realized that the animals meant no harm, and all they needed is their protection. Somehow, the circus owners get information that the animals he abandoned did not perish with the ship as expected. He takes steps to get his animals back but will soon realize that doing so will not be easy. His animals have already found a new home and are surrounding by people who treat them with kindness. Brilliantly caricatured illustrations and buoyant rhymes characterize this book. The images evoke the nineteenth century when a real circus ship broke during a storm close to the coast of Maine, and one animal made it an island close by.
All Book Series by Chris Van Dusen
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2010
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chris Van Dusen?
The villagers first hide the animals, making it hard for the circus owner to trace them. After one of the animals made a brave rescue, the islanders realized that the animals meant no harm, and all they needed is their protection. Somehow, the circus owners get information that the animals he abandoned did not perish with the ship as expected.
Which Chris Van Dusen series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Mr. Magee series, the earliest of Chris Van Dusen's multi-book series: it opens with Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (2000) and runs to 3 books across 2000–2010, ending with Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee (2010). Chris Van Dusen's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Chris Van Dusen written?
Chris Van Dusen has 13 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2000 and 2025. 7 of them belong to 2 named series — the largest being the If I Built ... series with 4 books — and 6 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Chris Van Dusen's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Chris Van Dusen's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Mr. Magee (2000–2010, 3 books) and If I Built ... (2005–2025, 4 books).
How are Chris Van Dusen's books organised into series?
This guide splits Chris Van Dusen's 13 books into 2 named series and 6 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: If I Built ... (4 books, 2005–2025); Mr. Magee (3 books, 2000–2010).