The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

I love reading aloud, and I love read-aloud books that have sounds or actions that the reader and listeners can do as they follow the story. This book is delightfully physical—as you clap, clomp, wiggle, nod, and boo along with the shoes, pants, shirt, top hat, gloves, and pumpkin head that the little old woman meets as she walks home one night. Being followed by clomping shoes or wiggling pant legs might be terrifying, but this little old woman is not afraid of anything, something she proves when all these animate items come knocking at her door. Bravely she offers… show more.

A little old lady is not afraid of anything, until--clomp, clomp, shake, shake, clap, clap—she hears eerie noises behind her while walking in the forest. Followed by a collection of bodiless clothes and a pumpkin head that want to scare her, she hurries home. But she’s not frightened when they return. Rather, she comes up with a great idea—why don’t they assemble themselves as a scarecrow who can scare crows away from her garden? Great onomatopoeia, repetition, suspense, a perfect ending, and lively illustrations. I’ve never read this book to a child who hasn’t begged me to read… show more.