Reviews
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
“It’s an entirely fresh take on the theme (of the old lady who swallowed a fly). ..The language is phenomenal…The illustrations are distinctive….and for something that will capture the attention of little boys, there is a climax that is sure to appeal…
Jennifer Starkman, “Noodlenuts”
“First-time author Garriel’s text brims with clever rhymes… Like Terry Gilliam’s Monty Python animation, O’Brien’s pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor wash are delightfully outre and full of sly humor….The good-natured fun will appeal to music lovers and fans of silly stories.”
Publishers Weekly
“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!”
Professor from Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.
“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… provides excellent accompaniment to this silly reworking of a familiar rhyme.”
Kirkus Reviews
“The rhyme and rhythm pattern actually work and many of them are ingenious.”
Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children’s Books
“With the stylistic pen and watercolor illustrations by O’Brien and well rhymed text by new author Garriel, the book 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
“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
“This is a high-spirited and amusing story.”
School Library Journal
“A wacky take-off 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
“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 language is delicious and the wacky exaggeration will tickle readers.”
Yellow Brick Road