There Was an Old Lady

Graboff Abner

One day an old lady swallows a fly and the only way she can get rid of it is to swallow a wriggling, tickling spider...

For over a century this subversive rhyme has delighted children and parents alike. Its galloping rhythm is perfect for reading out loud, becoming a memory game as the list of animals – bird, cat, dog, goat – grows. Graboff's bright and startling illustrations combine beautifully with the traditional verse to bring this classic tale to life.

About the Author

Abner Graboff was a prolific graphic designer and children's book illustrator, active from the 1950s to the 1970s. His three sons helped him to research this book by studying their cat, Tarzan.

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