The Circus of CATS in Venice

The Circus of Cats in Venice is a fanciful tale about Antonio, a street cat, who was born with a rusty spoon in his mouth, so to speak. His life began as a stowaway on an abandoned gondola in Venice. He was raised by his mother in a tough cat neighborhood - Santa Lucia Railway Station. One day, when he meets a unique clown, Sir Maximus, who trains cats to perform circus acts, his life takes a turn for the better. Tune in to see how a cat, who begins his circus career flying-accidentally-into the arms of a young, surprised but delighted girl in the front row, becomes one of the Circus' best performers. This is definitely "The Greatest Show on Earth!"

• Mom's Choice AwardWinner 2025
• Image of the Book AwardWinner 2025

This encouraging picture book for children from Viviana Falleti (The Cats’ Museum) introduces an orange-striped tabby cat named Antonio, who learns the value of perseverance to achieve his dream of being a circus star. Born on an abandoned gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, Antonio survives a rough-and-tumble childhood and a great many cat fights. As a young adult, he is approached by a clown who introduces himself as Sir Maximus and offers Antonio a chance to try out for the Circus of Cats. Delighted, Antonio walks with a spring in his step to the audition, where he is given the chance to join the Circus on a trial basis.

On the night of his first performance, Antonio is excited as he takes the stage. Unfortunately, his routines don’t exactly go to plan—in one instance, he trips and launches himself into the audience, and another time, he accidentally claws the back of a clown, and so many more mishaps happen. Afterwards, Antonio slinks away, embarrassed, certain that his brief career as an acrobat is over. The next day, however, his new friend Lulu shows up to revive his flagging spirits and remind him that everyone makes mistakes, especially when they are learning something new. This gives Antonio the courage to return to the Circus and try again, which will encourage kids to give themselves the same kind of grace.

Victoria Fomina’s dreamy illustrations show Antonio and his fellow circus performers wandering and wheeling through a stylized imagination of Venice, complete with historic architecture, curling blue waves, and the moon hanging large and low in a cerulean sky dotted with stars. The vibrant layouts of lively, multicolored cats leaping through hoops, balancing on blocks, and riding rocking horses in frilly gowns will intrigue and captivate. Ultimately, kids will get a boost from Antonio’s tenacity, as they encounter and overcome their own challenges.

Takeaway: A cat learns the value of perseverance to achieve his dreams.