There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There Was and Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
by, Simms Taback

This picture book is based on the classic folk song "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." The unique illustrations add interest to the story. My own children love this book and they love to sing the song with me as we read the story. The author and illustrator cleverly placed holes in the "Old Lady's" belly so that the pictures of the animals show through the pages. My son continually asks, "how did they do that??" when we read this story.

I found the author's added commentary throughout the story somewhat comical. For example, at the end of the story (when the old lady dies, of course) the author has drawn an illustration of himself and he writes "even the artist is crying!" He ends the book with the moral: never swallow a horse. Again, I find this mildly amusing.

Truthfully, I find this song, and the accompanying illustrations to be somewhat morbid. But, that being said, kids seem to love this book. I sang this song when I was a kid, and at the time, it never occurred to me that singing a song about an old lady eating a horse and dying was morbid. I always just found it silly.