There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly by Simms Taback

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY by Simms Taback

Bibliography:

 Taback, Simms. 1997. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY.  New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780670869398.

Plot Summary: This story is a fun singsong tale of a woman who swallows bugs and animals.  She swallows a fly first, then a spider, bird, cat, dog, snake, pig, goat, cow, donkey, and horse.  The book is written based on the song written by Alan Mills and Rose Bonne and is more of a silly poem than a story.

Critical Analysis: I adore this book because of its fun pretense.  It is a little odd that the woman eats all of these things and it might be a little disturbing for some when the woman dies in the end.  However, it is meant to be a fun singsong type of book that is fun to read and fun listen to.

Review Excerpts:

·      Library School Journal: “From cover to moral (never swallow a horse), this cleverly illustrated version of an old folk favorite will delight children.”

·      New York Times: “The book is beautifully illustrated and lovingly designed by Simms Taback, and the publisher should be given enormous credit for the careful way it has produced the book and carried through his concept, which is a dandy.”

Connections:

·      This book is great to read to children because of its fun tone and topic

·      It helps kids understand rhyming

·      Other books by this author:

o   Taback, Simms. 2006. THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A BELL.  ISBN:  978-0439866439

o   Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT.  ISBN: 978-0670878550

o   Taback, Simms.  2005. KIBITZERS AND FOOLS.  ISBN:  978-0670059553