Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1991.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 0-8050-1401-2.
Aylesworth creates a rhythmic alphabet chant based on the brief adventures of an annoying pest on its germ-spreading journey through a busy household. Punctuated by admonitions of "Shoo fly! Shoo fly! Shooo", the noxious insect buzzes his way from the Apple pie to his final Zzzzz before ending his "bad day" with a resounding "Swat!". Gammell's colorful paint splattering style perfectly expresses the fly's toxic trail around the beleaguered home.
The initial rhyme can be sung to "Buffalo Gals Won't You Come Out Tonight", and has great audience participation potential with the "Shoo fly!" refrain. I love to slam the book shut when the fly gets splatted, adding a bit of drama, before sadly quoting the end rhyme "Old black fly's done buzzin' around, and he won't be bad no more."
Letter knowledge is enhanced through the sight and sounds of the alphabet, as well as phonological awareness in rhyming, chanting, and onomatopoeia. Ages 2 and up.
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