I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

PreS-K—A dozen songs composed by the late Canadian folksinger Alan Mills have been dusted off and are performed with updated arrangements by Hellman and Clepper. Featuring the classic children's song "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," the duo are accompanied by a handful of musicians who use instruments such as jaw harp, acoustic guitar, upright bass, banjo, dobro, and mandolin to give each song a country twist. Other tracks included are less well known, but feature concepts such as the alphabet ("Animal Alphabet Song," "123 ABCD"), numbers ("Twelve Kittens"), and months of the year ("The Months of the Year")—just perfect for the preschool crowd. Illustrations in the accompanying picture book are by Pierre Girard (professionally known as PisHier). Each is full of lively action, whimsy, and detail matching the lyrics of the songs. The bulk of the book is for each verse of the title song, with the other 11 songs receiving a two-page spread of lyrics and art. All extend the meaning of the words and feature children and cuddly animals. A side note: eagle-eyed viewers will note Wendy meets President Obama in "Heel, Toe, and Away We Go." A fresh look at Mills's legacy for the preschool crowd.—Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH