Have Tent, Will Perform! Peppa Pig and the Backyard Circus

IT'S A SUNNY DAY AND PEPPA AND FRIENDS ARE VISITING GRANDPA AND GRANDMA PIG.

"BANG, BANG!" GRANDPA IS USING HIS HAMMER!

Of course, Peppa Pig has to know what's going on out back.

"IT'S A CIRCUS TENT!"

How? What? Who? Peppa has to know!

Grandma Pig points out that it's not really a circus tent. It seems she's having a garden party!

But the performer in Peppa Pig can't let a perfectly good tent be wasted on a sedate garden party, where grownups with teacups stand around and make polite conversation. This tent has more promising potential!

"LET'S PUT ON A SHOW!

PEPPA'S CIRCUS!!"

Never one to let the garden grass grow under her feet, Grandma Pig pulls out her Dress-Up Box. Danny Dog volunteers to be the strong man; Emily Elephant jumps in to claim the role of juggler; and Pedro Pony takes on the job of clown. Rebecca Rabbit wants to be the makeup artist! Even little brother George recruits a trio of daring tricyclists.

Everyone piles on the Dress-Up Box and pulls out a costume, leaving Peppa with nothing but an unclaimed, slightly squashed, tall hat. Peppa moans that there's nothing left for her to be.

"YOU CAN BE THE RINGMASTER!" GRANDMA SUGGESTS.

"THE BOSS!" SAYS GRANDPA.

That's an inspired bit of perfect casting for the party of the season, in the latest Peppa spinoff, Peppa Pig and the Backyard Circus (Candlewick Entertainment, 2017). Life is filled with endless possibilities for the ebullient Peppa Pig, the current diva of preschool telly programming, and her energetic family pitch in to make for a lively impromptu circus performance which delights the tea-party guests as well. It's always a sunny day in Peppa-ville, and Peppa, the life of the party, is always up for family fun.