There Was an Old Sailor
What’s inside...
This playful, rhyming picture book offers a fresh take on the song 'There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.' Claire Saxby's version features a sailor who swallows sea creatures of increasing size, each meant to catch the previous one. The story ends happily when the sailor burps out all the creatures after swallowing a whale. Cassandra Allen's illustrations enhance the tale, and the book includes a 'Fishy Facts' section with information about each sea creature. The repetitive and rhyming text makes it an engaging read-aloud choice.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the old sailor felt each time he swallowed another sea creature? How would you feel?
Can you imagine what it would be like inside the sailor's stomach? How do you think all those sea creatures felt?
Why do you think the old sailor kept swallowing more sea creatures?
If you were one of the sea creatures, what would you have done differently?
What lesson can we learn from the old sailor's tale?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story to enhance emotional understanding and empathy.
Use funny voices for different creatures that the old sailor swallows. It makes the reading experience more engaging and fun.
Draw connections between the story elements and your child’s experiences, such as asking if they've ever eaten something they didn't like, mirroring the old sailor's situation.
Encourage your child to predict what will happen next throughout the story, enhancing their analytical and reasoning skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The book uses a humorous, imaginative retelling of the classic 'There Was an Old Lady' to engage children.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to use their imagination to reinterpret stories and express themselves creatively in everyday play or storytelling.
Example Lesson: Sequence and memory
Explanation: As the sailor swallows increasingly larger animals, children are encouraged to remember and recount the sequence of events.
Real-World Application: This skill helps in enhancing memory and understanding sequences which can aid in learning processes, following instructions, and organizing tasks.
Example Lesson: Understanding natural biology
Explanation: The story includes various sea creatures, which provides an opportunity to discuss marine life and ecosystems.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this knowledge by recognizing these creatures in real life, in books, or during educational visits to aquariums.
Example Lesson: Cause and effect
Explanation: The sailor's decisions lead to various outcomes, illustrating the concept of cause and effect.
Real-World Application: Understanding this concept helps children grasp the importance of making thoughtful decisions and predicting outcomes in their daily activities.
Example Lesson: Humor appreciation
Explanation: The absurdity of the sailor’s actions and the rhyming text can help children develop a sense of humor.
Real-World Application: Learning to appreciate humor can enhance social interactions and stress relief, promoting a joyful and lighthearted approach to life.