Book Review of Topsy’s Big Escape
The Children’s Book Review
Topsy’s Big Escape
Written by Bill Shomo
Illustrated by Tim Knickerbocker
Ages: 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Rootstock Publishing (2026) | Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-57869-217-0
What to Expect: Historical non-fiction, animal adventures, 1920s circus culture, local legends, and themes of kindness and empathy.
A whimsical, “mostly true” historical adventure about a massive circus elephant who escapes into the night, turning a 1920s North Carolina town upside down.
In Topsy’s Big Escape, readers are introduced to Topsy, a four-ton superstar elephant who loves the spotlight almost as much as she loves her quiet boxcar and her goat companion, Gussie. But after a successful rainy-night performance in Wilmington, a sudden bark from a stray dog sends the massive pachyderm into a full-blown panic. Breaking free from her chains, Topsy vanishes into the dark city streets.
What follows is a series of hilarious, middle-of-the-night misadventures as a hungry, thirsty, and terrified Topsy wanders through neighborhoods—flattening fences, wearing a chicken coop, and making a spectacular mess inside a local dye company. With the town in an uproar, it is up to the kindhearted and respected Officer Leon George to find the miserable elephant and figure out how to safely guide her back home.
Bill Shomo’s writing is delightfully warm, energetic, and highly engaging for young readers. He successfully balances historical exposition with playful, sensory-rich storytelling. Shomo’s use of expressive language—such as “with a hoot and a toot,” “splat!” and “sucking slurp-steps”—brings marvelous movement to the page and makes the historical 1922 setting feel immediate and fun. The pacing of the plot is excellent, escalating the humor of Topsy’s urban escapades while injecting genuine empathy into her interactions with Officer George. An informative epilogue adds wonderful historical context regarding the modern retirement of circus elephants and state laws protecting wild animals, grounding the whimsical tale in responsible reflection.
Perfectly capturing the historical charm and lighthearted humor of this “mostly true” story are Tim Knickerbocker’s illustrations that render the massive Topsy with an endearing, expressive quality that emphasizes her vulnerability rather than making her look menacing. The artwork shines in the action scenes, bringing great comedic value to moments like Topsy wearing a chicken coop, getting doused in bright purple dye, and wading miserably through the muddy lake muck. The visual details of 1920s Wilmington are rendered with care, transporting readers back in time while keeping the overall aesthetic friendly and accessible.
Young readers, parents, educators, and animal lovers alike are sure to find Topsy’s Big Escape a heartwarming slice of history.
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About the Author
Bill Shomo is from a small town in Southwest Virginia. He is a writer, former TV producer, sailboat charter captain, and kite shop owner. He currently lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, with his wife, Jan, and volunteers as a walking tour guide for third-graders through the city’s historic district.
