Jessie the Guide Dog (www.Barbaragarriel.com)

I KNOW A SHY FELLOW WHO SWALLOWED A CELLO

Author: Barbara Garriel
Illustrator: John O'Brien
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello was inspired by the old woman who swallowed a fly. Using her love of words and music, Barbara created a zany and wild new look at an old favorite with a surprise ending.

I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello tells the story of a "Shy Fellow". He's a wallflower. You wouldn't even notice him. But as he listens to a duet for cello and viola, he suddenly has an urge to swallow the cello. And he doesn't stop there. His strange diet includes a harp, a sax and on and on. With rhyme, repetition and vivid, playful language, Barbara tells the tale of this unusual and shy fellow. The story proved a perfect match for illustrator John O'Brien's fertile and funny imagination.

REVIEWS

"Surreal illustrations add enjoyable vigor to this adaptation of "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly."
"At last he swallows the bell off a passing cat's collar--one snack too many!--and the resulting explosion returns the instruments to the musicians in a delightfully vibrant musical blast. The dynamic line of the illustrations, full of swoops and squiggles, provides excellent accompaniment to this silly reworking of a familiar rhyme."

- Kirkus Reviews -

"This is a high-spirited and amusing story, ..."
"O'Brien's dynamic cartoons, highlighted with energetic pen-and-ink lines, vibrate with color and action."

- School Library Journal -

"Like Terry Gilliam's Monty Python animation, O'Brien's (Poof!) pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor wash are delightfully outre and full of sly humor."
"First-time author Garriel's text brims with clever rhymes..."
"The good-natured fun will appeal to music lovers and fans of silly stories."

- Publishers Weekly -

"With the stylistic pen and watercolor illustrations by O'Brien and well rhymed text by new author Garriel makes for a fun read aloud."
"Perfect for a musical story hour or an interesting and happily repetitive way to introduce young ones to musical instruments."

- Martha Morgan
Beverly Public Library -

"A Wonderful Book!"
"This book may become my all time favorite for modeling language and rhythm among all the many versions of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. But it is even more wonderful for children of all ages. Music majors will love it, and I plan to buy it for my son's orchestra teacher. The art of John O'Brien is so complementary of the words, they tell beyond the story line."
"I teach pre-service teachers at the university level in Children's Literature and Garriel's book is a must for such courses. I can't rave enough!"

- A reader from Fairbanks, Alaska United States -

"Barbara Garriel has concocted a study in gastronomy that has a decidedly musical bite to it."

- Unknown -

"This take off on "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" is so fun you'll not want to put the book down."
"Music and hilarity abound in detailed illustrations."

- The Field Guide to Parenting -

"A wacky takeoff on the old woman who swallowed a fly with the author managing to make the rhymes work using instruments' names."
"Strange and surreal but silly fun."

- Highlands Regional Library Cooperative Book Evaluation Program -

"The colorful, outrageous illustrations by John O'Brien are a wonderful partner with the rhyming text."

- Multnomah ESD, Portland, OR -

"The rhyme and rhythm pattern actually work and many of them are ingenious."

- Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Books -

"Barbara S. Garriel's I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello is a fun takeoff on the ever-popular "Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" song, with daffy illustrations by John O'Brien."

- Salt Lake Tribune -

"Silly fun, lively wordplay, and musical rhythms make this a perfect picture book for reading aloud to groups of budding music students age four through seven."

- The Midwest Book Review -

"The bright and colorful illustrations are emphasized by pen-and-ink lines and fit the rhymes perfectly. They add just the right touch to finish off this amusing new folk rhyme. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book and would be a great read-aloud."

- Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee -

"The language is delicious and the wacky exaggeration will tickle readers."

- Yellow Brick Road -

I KNOW A SHY FELLOW
WHO SWALLOWED A CELLO (CD)

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