The Fly Flew In

PreS-Gr 2–Catrow’s outrageously funny caricatures steal the show in this simple story of a fly that wreaks havoc with audience, orchestra, and singers during an opera performance. Landing on elongated noses, inside ears, atop crazy hairdos, and on sticky lollipops, the fly eludes everyone’s efforts to be rid of it. Instead of eliminating the pest, these finely dressed people lose composure, as heads and hands are mistakenly struck by crashing cymbals and pounding drumsticks. And when the fly finally departs, it is due to none of their clownish efforts. Repetitive words and extremely short sentences make this tale accessible for the newest readers. While Catrow respectfully appeals to young patrons of the arts by including them in his audience, there are many children who will require some introduction to the orchestra and to the conventions and formalities that, once upended, give this story its wonderful humor.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT