📖 Overview
The Old Lady returns in this school-themed addition to Lucille Colandro's popular children's book series. This time, she consumes various school supplies and educational items in her trademark style.
The story follows the familiar cumulative pattern established in previous Old Lady books, with each new item building upon the last. The text maintains its signature rhythm and rhyme scheme that young readers have come to expect.
Like other books in the series, this installment combines humor with anticipation as readers wonder what the Old Lady will swallow next. The narrative celebrates the excitement of back-to-school season while maintaining the playful absurdity that makes these stories engaging for children.
The book continues the series' tradition of using nonsensical situations to help young readers develop prediction skills and pattern recognition, while fostering an enthusiasm for reading and school routines.
👀 Reviews
Most readers find this book offers an entertaining back-to-school twist on the classic "Old Lady" series. Parents and teachers report it engages children ages 3-7 and fits well with beginning-of-year classroom activities.
Readers liked:
- Rhyming text that helps with reading comprehension
- School supply theme resonates with kids
- Colorful illustrations
- Works well for interactive read-alouds
Readers disliked:
- Some found the ending abrupt
- A few noted it's less engaging than other books in the series
- Several mentioned the plot feels forced compared to the original
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.8/5 from 2,300+ reviews
Goodreads: 4.2/5 from 850+ ratings
"Perfect for the first day of school" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple teachers noted students request repeated readings. One recurring criticism is that the items swallowed don't build on each other as naturally as in other Old Lady books.
📚 Similar books
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback
The original tale follows the same cumulative pattern of swallowing objects with a memorable rhythm and repetition.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff This story builds one event upon another in a circular pattern as actions lead to consequences.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson The story presents a Thanksgiving twist on the classic cumulative tale with food-themed sequences.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood Characters stack upon each other in a cumulative pattern until a surprise event causes a chain reaction.
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin The story follows a repetitive pattern as Pete steps in different items that change his shoes' colors.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff This story builds one event upon another in a circular pattern as actions lead to consequences.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson The story presents a Thanksgiving twist on the classic cumulative tale with food-themed sequences.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood Characters stack upon each other in a cumulative pattern until a surprise event causes a chain reaction.
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin The story follows a repetitive pattern as Pete steps in different items that change his shoes' colors.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 This book is part of a beloved series that includes more than 20 "There Was an Old Lady" titles, each featuring the quirky character swallowing different themed items.
🏫 The story cleverly incorporates school supplies and follows a pattern similar to the classic nursery rhyme "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," making it perfect for back-to-school season.
✍️ Author Lucille Colandro worked as an elementary school teacher before becoming a children's book writer, which helped her understand what engages young readers.
🎨 The book's illustrator, Jared Lee, has illustrated more than 100 children's books and is known for his humorous, expressive drawing style.
📖 The cumulative structure of the story (where each new event builds on previous ones) helps develop memory skills and prediction abilities in young readers.