 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
- By Simms Taback
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Madcap Caldecott Honor version of classic poem.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's little story in this traditional poem, but it's wildly silly, and readers have an open invitation to rhyme along. The artwork, for all its goofiness, is mesmerizing.
What's the story?
A madcap, Caldecott Honor-winning version of a classic folk poem. It features a superb die-cut page design, a crowd of verbal and visual details, and an old lady's belly that bloats and bloats as each new and progressively bigger creature goes down the hatch. Simms Taback's bizarre artwork is drenched in color.
Is it any good?
Simms Taback adds visual fuel to a folk poem already brimming with hilarity. While the poem stands on its own as a celebration of rhyme and tomfoolery, Taback captures the action in boldly colored cartoon illustrations that cover each page. Short rhymed comments from the animals about to be eaten are added as asides. The cut-out pages focus the reader's attention and carry the poem from page to page.
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY appeals to a wide range of ages, though one 4-year-old called the book "creepy," perhaps because the old lady's eyes rotate wildly and independently in their sockets. Older readers will probably be content with one read-through, though the younger audience will demand repeat performances. No problem -- with this degree of busyness and action, the book never stales.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about traditional poems and songs. Parents can share some of their own childhood favorites.
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| Author: | Simms Taback |
| Illustrator: | Simms Taback |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Penguin Group |
| Publication date: | September 1, 1997 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
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