This reinterpretation of “There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly” follows a cumulative, action-filled, food chain of events. First, a fly buzzes by. Snap! The fly is gulped down by a frog. Next, a duckling guzzles the frog. Snap! The duckling is then ingested by a Pike. The Pike makes a tasty meal for a fisherman, who takes a snooze. Snap! The fisherman is swallowed up by a hungry bear. As the bear takes his nap a fly buzzes by, starting the process all over again. Colorful illustrations with just the right amount of detail portray each animal in the larger one’s belly, almost like a set of nesting dolls. While some may object to the inclusion of the fisherman as a snack, it adds a realistic touch, and children will likely take it in stride. The simple text and lighthearted, humorous illustrations will draw children in to this accessible example of the food chain at work, and teachers will find it a valuable classroom addition. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2006
ISBN: 1-84507-408-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2006
The wriggly narrator of Diary of a Worm (2003) puts in occasional appearances, but it’s his arachnid buddy who takes center stage here, with terse, tongue-in-cheek comments on his likes (his close friend Fly, Charlotte’s Web), his dislikes (vacuums, people with big feet), nervous encounters with a huge Daddy Longlegs, his extended family—which includes a Grandpa more than willing to share hard-won wisdom (The secret to a long, happy life: “Never fall asleep in a shoe.”)—and mishaps both at spider school and on the human playground. Bliss endows his garden-dwellers with faces and the odd hat or other accessory, and creates cozy webs or burrows colorfully decorated with corks, scraps, plastic toys and other human detritus. Spider closes with the notion that we could all get along, “just like me and Fly,” if we but got to know one another. Once again, brilliantly hilarious. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-06-000153-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2005
The lifecycle of the frog is succinctly summarized in this easy reader for children reading at the late first-grade level. In just one or two sentences per page, Vern details the amazing metamorphosis of the frog from egg to tadpole to adult, even injecting a little humor despite the tight word count. (“Watch out fly! Mmmm!) Large, full-color photographs on white backgrounds clearly illustrate each phase of development. Without any mention of laying eggs or fertilization, the title might be a bit misleading, but the development from black dot egg to full-grown frog is fascinating. A simple chart of the three main lifecycle steps is also included. Lifecycles are part of the standard curriculum in the early elementary grades, and this will be a welcome addition to school and public libraries, both for its informational value and as an easy reader. (Nonfiction/easy reader. 5-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-15-216304-2
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001
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