A feast of humorous verse and delicious cartoon art from award-winning illustrator Chris Van Dusen.When a circus ship founders off the coast of Maine, the animals manage to swim to the safety of a small island, whose inhabitants are not a little surprised to find their home suddenly full of exotic creatures. Before long, animals and islanders are living harmoniously side by side - and, best of all, the circus creatures are free from the tyranny of Mr Paine, the cruel circus owner. Or are they? One morning Mr Paine arrives on his ship to seize them back, and the villagers must use all their ingenuity to help their new friends avoid capture…