Old Black Fly

by Jim Aylesworth, Stephen Gammell (Illustrator)

Overview

Nothing drives a family crazy faster than an old black fly on a hot summer day, especially when the family's a little crazy already. And this fly is as bad as they come. He knows every low-down trick in the book—and won't rest until he's gone through them all.

He ate on the crust
of the Apple pie.
He bothered the Baby
and made her cry.
Shoo fly!
Shoo fly!
Shooo.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805039245
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/15/1995
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	153,282
Product dimensions:	9.05(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.17(d)
Lexile:	AD400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jim Aylesworth taught the first grade for more than twenty years. He has written more than twenty books for young readers, including My Son John and McGraw's Emporium. He lives in Hinsdale, Illinois, with his wife.

Stephen Gammell has illustrated many books for children. He won the Caldecott Medal for Song and Dance Man. Stephen Gammell lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Editorial Reviews

A wild, alphabetical romp.” —Booklist

“* Sure to become a classic.” —School Library Joumal, starred review

“Aylesworth's buoyant, rhythmic verse provides inspiration for a wondrous evolution of Gammell's style.... Sheer delight for eyes, ears, and funny-bones.” —Kirkus Reviews, pointer

From the Publisher

This boisterous rhyming alphabet book begs to be sung aloud. An old black fly buzzes around and gets into everything, from an Apple pie to mama's Yarn, until--splat!--this fly will Zzz no more! Stephen Gammell's messy illustrations swirl all over the page, just like a pesky fly.

Barnes & Noble Staff

PW dubbed this rhythmic journey through the alphabet on the back of a pesky housefly an ``ebullient picture-book romp,'' lauding the ``waggish presentation of a basic concept.'' Ages 4-7. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 3-- A pesky fly turns a household inside out in this rollicking tale. ``He ate on the crust of the A pple pie./He bothered the B aby and made her cry./ Shoo fly! Shoo fly! Shooo.'' This fly is on an alphabetical rampage through the house, leaving destruction in his wake as he flits from the C ookie to the D og to the E ggs to the F rosting, and so on to a final, satisfying ``Swat!'' Aylesworth's funny, rhythmic chant is strong enough to stand alone. Add Gammell's spattery, jumpy illustrations, splashed with color, alive with movement, line, and humor, and what emerges is a book that's sure to become a classic. To be enjoyed at home as a lapbook, to be read aloud with relish at story times, to be chanted again and again and again! --Gail C. Ross, Baltimore County Public Library

School Library Journal