Coco the Clown facts for kids
Coco the Clown is a very famous clown character from Britain. He later became well-known in America too. Coco was not a "whiteface" clown, who usually has a serious, elegant look. Instead, he was an "auguste" clown. This type of clown is often seen as a bit silly or clumsy. Because of this, other "clever" clowns often play tricks on him. Coco often ends up with buckets of water thrown at him or gets a custard pie in his face!
The Man Behind Coco
The character of Coco the Clown was made famous by a man named Nicolai Poliakoff (1900–1974). Later, his son, Michael Polakovs (1923–2009), helped make Coco famous in America.
Coco's Important Work
After he stopped performing in the circus, Nicolai Poliakoff continued to work as Coco the Clown. He visited many schools across the United Kingdom. His important job was to teach children about road safety. He even used a walking stick that looked like a special road safety beacon. For all his hard work, the Queen gave him a special award called the OBE.
Images for kids
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Poliakoff in costume
