I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Nadine Bernard Westcott Author Review: Pros and Cons
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Category: Entertainment
If you are looking for a funny, repetitive picture book that can keep toddlers engaged while also giving parents plenty of opportunities to practice rhyming, sequencing, and prediction, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a classic worth considering. This Nadine Bernard Westcott-illustrated edition is based on the familiar cumulative folk song in which an old lady swallows a succession of increasingly larger animals.
The book is particularly well suited to read-aloud time. Its short format, playful illustrations, repetition, and escalating story make it easy for young children to participate rather than simply listen.
Check the current Amazon listing for I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
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Table of Contents
- Is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly a good children’s book?
- What is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly about?
- What age is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly appropriate for?
- Who wrote and illustrated the book?
- What are the pros of the book?
- What are the cons of the book?
- Is the book educational?
- Is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly good for toddlers?
- Why do children enjoy the story?
- How does the book compare with other versions?
- Is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly worth buying?
- Final verdict: Pros and cons
Is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly a good children’s book?
Yes, especially for toddlers and preschoolers who enjoy repetition, rhyme, animals, and silly humor
The strongest feature of I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is its simplicity. Rather than relying on a complicated plot, the story builds through a repeating pattern. The old lady swallows one animal, then another animal is introduced, creating an increasingly ridiculous sequence.
The Nadine Bernard Westcott edition is a board book edition published by LB Kids. Hachette lists the edition at 22 pages and gives an age range of 0–3 years. The publisher describes it as a read-aloud retelling of the classic children’s song, with bright, bold illustrations. (Hachette Book Group)
That combination makes it particularly appealing for adults looking for a short book that can be read repeatedly without requiring a long attention span.
Who is this book best for?
It is primarily aimed at very young children. Parents, grandparents, daycare providers, preschool teachers, and anyone building a toddler’s home library may find the format especially useful.
One important point is that there are multiple editions and adaptations of the Old Lady story. Readers should therefore check the specific edition before buying. Hachette’s current listing identifies the Nadine Bernard Westcott-illustrated board-book edition as 22 pages and intended for ages 0–3. (Hachette Book Group)
What is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly about?
It is a cumulative, humorous story about an old lady who keeps swallowing animals in an increasingly absurd chain of events
The story begins with the old lady swallowing a fly. She then swallows additional animals in an attempt to deal with what came before. The sequence grows from a fly to larger animals, eventually reaching a horse.
The publisher description identifies the sequence as including a fly, spider, bird, cat, dog, goat, cow, and horse. (Target)
The appeal isn’t realism. The premise is deliberately absurd, which is exactly why it can work so well as children’s humor.
Why does the repetitive story work so well?
Why: Children often enjoy knowing what comes next.
The repeated structure gives children an opportunity to anticipate the next line or event. Once they understand the pattern, they can participate during the read-aloud instead of passively listening.
That can make the book especially useful for adults who want to encourage participation from a child who is still developing language skills.
The story also provides natural opportunities to ask questions such as:
- What animal comes next?
- What happened before the bird?
- Which animal was the biggest?
- Can you remember all the animals?
- What do you think will happen next?
Those questions can turn a very short book into a more interactive reading activity.
What age is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly appropriate for?
The Nadine Bernard Westcott board-book edition is marketed for ages 0–3
Age recommendations vary among editions, so this is one area where shoppers should pay attention to the exact product listing.
Hachette lists the Nadine Bernard Westcott edition as a 22-page board book with an age range of 0–3 years. (Hachette Book Group)
Target likewise lists the board book as a 22-page juvenile-fiction nursery-rhyme title intended for ages 0–3. (Target)
Other versions of the story are aimed at somewhat older children. For example, Penguin Random House’s Simms Taback edition is listed for ages 3–7 and Preschool–2, demonstrating why the edition matters when comparing products. (PenguinRandomhouse.com)
What should parents check before purchasing?
Look at:
- The edition
- Format
- Page count
- Recommended age
- Illustrator
- Publication date
- Board book versus hardcover or paperback
If your primary goal is a sturdy book for a baby or toddler, the Westcott board-book edition is the version to investigate.
Check Amazon for the current edition, format, and availability
Who wrote and illustrated the book?
Mary Ann Hoberman is credited as the author, while Nadine Bernard Westcott illustrated the edition
The distinction between author and illustrator is important because the name Nadine Bernard Westcott can sometimes lead shoppers to assume she wrote the book.
Google Books identifies Mary Ann Hoberman as the author of the 1980 edition, while Bookroo identifies Nadine Bernard Westcott as the illustrator. (Google Books)
Hachette’s product page specifically describes the item as I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Nadine Bernard Westcott and identifies it as an illustrated edition. (Hachette Book Group)
Westcott’s illustrations are an important part of the experience because young children can follow the increasingly crowded sequence visually as the story progresses.
Who is Nadine Bernard Westcott?
Westcott is a children’s book illustrator whose work includes numerous books for young readers. Bookroo notes that she has illustrated more than 100 books and identifies I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly among her work. (Bookroo)
Her role here is particularly significant because the book depends heavily on visual humor. The animals and the increasingly absurd premise give children something to look at while an adult reads the text aloud.
What are the pros of I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly?
The biggest advantages are repetition, humor, short length, illustrations, and read-aloud potential
There are several reasons this book can make a good addition to a young child’s collection.
What are the biggest advantages?
1. Repetition
The cumulative structure is easy for young listeners to follow. Repetition can also encourage children to participate in familiar portions of a story.
2. Rhyming and rhythm
The story originates from a familiar folk-song tradition, giving it a natural musical quality. The rhythmic structure makes it particularly suitable for reading aloud.
3. Animal recognition
The story introduces a series of recognizable animals. That creates opportunities for adults to pause and ask children to identify what they see.
4. Short reading time
At 22 pages, the board-book edition is manageable for a toddler’s attention span. (Hachette Book Group)
5. Durable board-book format
The board-book construction is designed for young children and small hands, making it more practical for toddlers than a delicate picture-book format.
6. Humor
The absurd premise can make children laugh, particularly as the animals become increasingly unexpected.
7. Interactive potential
Because the story follows a predictable sequence, adults can encourage children to guess what comes next.
What are the cons of I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly?
The story is intentionally repetitive and absurd, which will not appeal to every child or parent
No children’s book is perfect for every family.
The biggest potential drawback is also one of its biggest strengths: repetition.
A child who loves predictable stories may want to hear it repeatedly. Another child may lose interest because the basic story pattern changes very little.
Why might some parents not love the book?
Why: The humor is intentionally nonsensical.
The central premise involves a woman swallowing animals, so parents looking for realistic stories, gentle everyday situations, or straightforward educational narratives may find the concept strange.
There is also an increasingly dark comic element to the traditional story. The absurdity is the point, but parents should decide whether that type of humor fits their household.
Another consideration is that the 0–3 recommendation applies specifically to the Westcott board-book edition. Families looking for a longer, more detailed story may prefer another version.
Finally, shoppers should not confuse the various Old Lady editions. The Simms Taback version, for example, is a substantially different illustrated edition with a 36-page hardcover format and a 3–7 age recommendation. (PenguinRandomhouse.com)
Is the book educational?
Yes, it can support early literacy skills when adults use it interactively
The book isn’t primarily a traditional instructional workbook, but its structure provides several opportunities for learning.
How can parents use the book for learning?
How: Turn the repeated story into a conversation.
For example, after reading the book, an adult could ask the child to name the animals in order. This encourages memory and sequencing.
You can also practice:
- Animal vocabulary
- Rhyming
- Prediction
- Listening comprehension
- Counting
- Sequencing
- Cause and effect
- Story recall
- Beginning narrative skills
The cumulative format is especially useful for sequencing because each new animal builds upon what came before.
A Goodreads community review of the Westcott edition similarly highlights the repetitive structure and suggests that it can be useful for young readers and writing activities, although individual Goodreads reviews should be treated as reader opinion rather than formal educational research. (Goodreads)
What literary concept does the book demonstrate?
The clearest concept is cumulative storytelling.
Each new event adds another element to the existing sequence. This makes it easy for children to understand that stories can have patterns and predictable structures.
That makes the book useful not only as entertainment but also as a jumping-off point for creative activities.
How can teachers extend the story?
A teacher could have children create their own silly cumulative story.
For example:
A child chooses an object or animal, then adds another item to the sequence while repeating the earlier elements.
This activity can encourage memory, vocabulary, sequencing, and creative language use without requiring children to write a complicated story.
Is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly good for toddlers?
Yes, the Westcott board-book edition is specifically positioned as a toddler-friendly read-aloud
This may be one of the strongest reasons to consider this particular edition.
Hachette describes the edition as a board book intended for babies and toddlers, while Target lists the suggested age as 0–3. (Hachette Book Group)
The format is also practical. A toddler can hold a board book more easily than a thin-paper picture book, and the relatively short length makes it realistic to read in one sitting.
Where does this book work best?
It can work well for:
- Bedtime reading
- Story time
- Daycare
- Preschool
- Car or stroller reading
- Waiting rooms
- Grandparent visits
- Early-learning activities
Its portability also makes it a practical choice for parents who want a familiar book available outside the home.
Check the current Amazon listing and available editions
Why do children enjoy the story?
Children can enjoy the predictable pattern, silly premise, animals, rhythm, and opportunity to participate
The story doesn’t ask young listeners to understand a complicated plot.
Instead, it gives them a pattern they can recognize.
Once a child realizes that the old lady keeps swallowing another animal, the child can anticipate the next development. That sense of participation is valuable during shared reading.
What makes the illustrations important?
The illustrations give young children another way to follow the story.
A toddler may not understand every word, but they can recognize animals, notice changes from page to page, and point to familiar objects.
That makes the book accessible even when a child’s independent vocabulary is still developing.
How does the book compare with other versions?
The Westcott board book is particularly suited to very young children, while other editions may better suit preschool and early-elementary readers
There is no single definitive shopping choice for every family because several versions of this story exist.
The Nadine Bernard Westcott edition is a 22-page board book listed for ages 0–3. (Hachette Book Group)
By comparison, Simms Taback’s There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a 36-page hardcover listed for ages 3–7 and Preschool–2. It also received a Caldecott Honor and New York Times Best Illustrated recognition. (PenguinRandomhouse.com)
That means shoppers should decide whether they want:
| Feature | Nadine Bernard Westcott edition | Simms Taback edition |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Board book | Hardcover |
| Pages | 22 | 36 |
| Listed age | 0–3 | 3–7 |
| Publisher | LB Kids | Viking Books for Young Readers |
| Primary appeal | Toddler read-aloud | Picture-book experience |
| Illustrator | Nadine Bernard Westcott | Simms Taback |
The two books share the basic traditional story, but they should not be treated as interchangeable products.
What should you buy?
If you’re buying for a baby or toddler and want durability, the Westcott board book is the more directly targeted option.
If you’re shopping for a preschool or early-elementary child and want a more elaborate picture-book presentation, the Taback edition may be worth considering.
Compare the available Amazon listings and formats
Is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly worth buying?
Yes, if you want an inexpensive, repeatable read-aloud that is designed around young children’s participation
The value of this book isn’t based on a complex narrative.
Instead, it comes from how easily it can become part of a child’s repeated reading routine.
A toddler may want to hear the same story several times. In that situation, repetition becomes a benefit rather than a drawback.
The book can also serve multiple purposes. It can be a bedtime story, a silly read-aloud, an animal-identification activity, or an introduction to cumulative storytelling.
When is it worth buying?
Consider it if you are shopping for:
- A toddler board book
- A baby shower gift
- A first library
- An animal-themed story
- A rhyming read-aloud
- A short bedtime book
- A preschool activity
- A repetitive story for language practice
It may be less suitable if you specifically want a realistic story, a detailed educational nonfiction book, or a longer narrative.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability
What do readers say about I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly?
Reader response is generally positive, although individual reviews vary
Goodreads currently shows the Westcott edition at approximately 4.18 stars from more than 1,500 ratings, indicating substantial reader interest and generally favorable reception. (Goodreads)
Reader reviews also illustrate an important point: adults may interpret the story differently from children.
Some readers focus on the catchy repetition and humor, while others point out that the ending is deliberately macabre. That contrast is part of the unusual character of this traditional cumulative story.
Because Goodreads reviews are user-generated, they are best used as a signal of reader sentiment rather than as authoritative evidence about educational quality.
Who should buy I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly?
Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators looking for a short toddler-friendly read-aloud are the strongest audience
The book makes the most sense for someone who wants an easy-to-hold children’s book that can be read repeatedly.
Who is it not ideal for?
It may not be the best choice for someone seeking:
- A nonfiction animal book
- A serious educational curriculum
- A long bedtime story
- A realistic family narrative
- A sophisticated plot
- A book aimed primarily at older elementary readers
The product’s simplicity is intentional.
How should parents read the book to make it more engaging?
Use prediction, repetition, animal sounds, and questions to turn the story into an interactive activity
Rather than simply reading every page straight through, pause occasionally.
Ask:
“What do you think comes next?”
Then let the child look at the illustration and respond.
You can also ask the child to:
- Point to the fly.
- Find the spider.
- Make an animal sound.
- Name the animals.
- Count the animals.
- Recall what came before.
- Predict what happens next.
This approach can make a 22-page book feel considerably more interactive.
Why is the book still relevant for modern children’s libraries?
Its simple structure addresses timeless early-reading interests rather than relying on technology or complicated storytelling
The basic ingredients are remarkably durable: animals, rhythm, repetition, humor, surprise, and participation.
That means the story can work equally well as a traditional read-aloud or as part of a more structured early-learning activity.
The publisher specifically describes the Westcott edition as a playful, rhyming read-aloud with bright illustrations, which reinforces its suitability for young children. (Hachette Book Group)
Final verdict: Pros and cons
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a strong choice for toddlers who enjoy silly, repetitive, animal-filled stories
The pros are clear:
- Toddler-friendly board-book format
- Short 22-page length
- Familiar cumulative story
- Rhyming and rhythmic structure
- Bright illustrations
- Multiple recognizable animals
- Strong read-aloud potential
- Opportunities for prediction and sequencing
- Easy to incorporate into early-learning activities
The cons are equally straightforward:
- The repetition may become tiresome for some adults or children
- The premise is intentionally absurd
- The traditional ending may feel dark to some parents
- The story isn’t designed as a realistic or instructional narrative
- Different editions have different ages, formats, and page counts
Overall, the Nadine Bernard Westcott edition is best viewed as a fun, compact toddler read-aloud rather than a conventional educational book. Its greatest strength is its ability to turn repetition into participation.
For families building a library for a baby or toddler, the board-book format and simple cumulative structure make it a sensible option to consider. Hachette currently lists the edition at 22 pages, published by LB Kids, with an age range of 0–3. (Hachette Book Group)
Bottom line: If your child enjoys animals, rhymes, repetition, and silly stories, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is likely to earn repeat-read status. If you prefer realistic stories or dislike deliberately absurd humor, there are better alternatives.
See the current Amazon listing for I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Affiliate note: Retail prices, stock status, editions, and availability can change. Always verify the exact edition, format, age recommendation, and seller before purchasing.