The Fly Flew In

July 15, 2012
A frolicsome fly disrupts a fancy concert. Catrow is in fine form as his fly flits from the nose of a fancifully costumed usher to formally dressed members of the audience and from the orchestra pit to the stage. He--the fly, that is--flies on and off noses. Humans flick him off, and he flips. He flies by cymbals, violins and Wagnerian singers and finally flies out of the theater to thunderous applause, but only after creating much mayhem. The text is short, repetitive, filled with sound effects, and good fun to read aloud. It will certainly appeal to emerging readers and adults fond of the letter F. The publisher has designated the book as part of its I Like to Read series, reading level C. Catrow's familiar watercolor-and-ink full-page paintings are screamingly funny. Intense hues of greens and blues and wildly exaggerated comical faces add fuel to the fracas. "Get that fly! Boom!" Have fun with this fly. (Early reader. 2-6)

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September 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 2-Catrow's outrageously funny caricatures steal the show in this simple story of a fly that wreaks havoc with audience, orchestra, and singers during an opera performance. Landing on elongated noses, inside ears, atop crazy hairdos, and on sticky lollipops, the fly eludes everyone's efforts to be rid of it. Instead of eliminating the pest, these finely dressed people lose composure, as heads and hands are mistakenly struck by crashing cymbals and pounding drumsticks. And when the fly finally departs, it is due to none of their clownish efforts. Repetitive words and extremely short sentences make this tale accessible for the newest readers. While Catrow respectfully appeals to young patrons of the arts by including them in his audience, there are many children who will require some introduction to the orchestra and to the conventions and formalities that, once upended, give this story its wonderful humor.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

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