Books › There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
32 pages
A delightfully chaotic, cumulative read-aloud that builds rhythmic momentum and visual absurdity with every turn of the page.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like participating in a boisterous, escalating performance. The experience is driven by a brisk, infectious rhythm that practically forces the reader to sing, chant, and bounce along. As the cumulative verse builds, so does the visual chaos, with clever die-cut pages offering a tactile, peek-a-boo window into the growing absurdity. The mood is wonderfully silly and vibrant, anchored by folksy, detail-rich illustrations that reward close inspection even as the pacing urges you forward. It is a masterclass in escalating nonsense, delighting young listeners who revel in the sheer ridiculousness of the premise. Perfect for energetic storytimes, it leaves both children and adults breathless, giggling, and eager to start the song all over again.
- Mood
- chaotic
- silly
- vibrant
- boisterous
- Tone
- playful
- absurd
- folksy
- irreverent
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- escalating absurdity · cause and effect · the joy of nonsense · cumulative chaos
- The writing
- Bouncy, cumulative verse that relies on infectious repetition and demands to be sung or chanted aloud.
- The arc
- Begins with a mild, silly mistake and builds into a frenzy of joyful, escalating absurdity before an abrupt, humorous conclusion.
- Who it's for
- Young children who delight in interactive, silly read-alouds and adults who love performing energetic, classic rhymes.
Content notes
- cartoonish death
- animal consumption
About the book
Presents the traditional version of a famous American folk poem first heard in the U.S. in the 1940's with illustrations on die-cut pages that reveal all that the old lady swallows.
Description from Open Library.
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