There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy
By Tedd Arnold
The Story
Grandma swallows Fly Guy, then a spider, then a bird, then a cat, then a dog — and just as she's about to gulp down a horse, Fly Guy shouts to save the day.
Why It's Special
For the kid who begs for the old lady who swallowed a fly at every read-aloud, this one swaps in a buzzing, bug-eyed hero who actually does something about it.
- Big idea: A familiar rhyme gets a rescue plot — even the smallest guy in the story can be the one who saves everybody.
- Vibes: Silly, escalating, and gleefully gross in the best way
Perfect For Kids Who
- love the classic swallowed-fly rhyme
- enjoy gross-out, escalating silliness
- like to predict what gets swallowed next
- respond well to a hero who saves the day
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story recall: Can you list all the things Grandma swallowed, in order?
- Story & problem-solving: What did Fly Guy do when Grandma was about to swallow the horse?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Buzz felt while watching Grandma swallow one animal after another?
- Imagination: If you were about to be swallowed like Fly Guy, what would you do?
- Real-life connection: Has a silly problem at your house ever gotten bigger and bigger like this one?
