Description
From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2-This goofy adaptation of "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" begins, "I know a shy fellow…/…who swallowed a cello./I don't know why he swallowed a cello./Perhaps he'll bellow." The instruments the man guzzles come from a wide variety of venues, including a sax from a jazz ensemble, a fiddle from a rockabilly band, and a kazoo from a child's birthday party. When he imbibes "the teeniest, tiniest, petite cascabel," his belly finally rebels and out of his mouth "jingled the bell," "buzzed the kazoo," "tooted the flute," etc., until "…last but not least,/out cha-chaed the cello!" This is a high-spirited and amusing story, and most of the rhythms work well. O'Brien's dynamic cartoons, highlighted with energetic pen-and-ink lines, vibrate with color and action. The main character continually changes shape to reflect the proportions of each instrument he consumes, and his antics are a good match for this silly but enjoyable romp. -Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library District, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist PreS-Gr. 2. As the title indicates, this takeoff is based on the familiar cumulative song, "The Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly." In this case, a shy fellow with an appetite for music gulps down a cello, harp, sax, fiddle, cymbal, flute, kazoo, and cascabel. Then he coughs up each instrument, producing an eclectic musical ensemble. The bouncy narrative injects fresh imagery and energetic language into the traditional ditty. The elongated, goofy-looking characters, especially the fish-faced "shy fellow," amplify the silliness. The busy, frizzy illustrations, filled with musical foliage, are too detailed for groups, but the story is a surefire read-aloud, and kids will enjoy examining the pictures afterward. Linda Perkins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Barbara S. Garriel lives in Bayville, New York. This is her first book. John O'Brien is also the author and illustrator of Mother Hubbard's Christmas , which Booklist calls "a yuk-filled read-aloud." He lives in Delran, New Jersey. Read more
Features & Highlights
- Perfect for any young reader interested in music, families who love music, and a must-have staple for music classrooms, this funny picture book is an amusing introduction to the instruments in an orchestra, featuring clever rhymes and whimsical illustrations.
- Meet a shy fellow! He’s hard to notice, but he’s right at the side of the room listening to a duet for cello and viola. But look again -- our shy fellow suddenly has an urge to swallow a HUGE cello, which is precisely what he does. And he doesn't stop there! He also swallows a harp, a saxophone, and a fiddle while trying to satisfy his voracious appetite for musical instruments. But when he swallows a teensy, tiny, little bitty bell, you won’t believe what happens! In this take-off on a classic children’s song, kids will laugh out loud and learn all about musical instruments with this story that’s a melodious mix of fun and frivolity.
