Summary
"A splendiferous Halloween story." --The Horn Book
"A great purchase for Halloween or any time of year." --School Library Journal (starred review)
Once upon a time, there was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything! But one autumn night, while walking in the woods, the little old lady heard . . . clomp, clomp, shake, shake, clap, clap.
And the little old lady who was not afraid of anything had the scare of her life! With bouncy refrains and classic art, this timeless Halloween story is perfect for reading aloud.
A classic and fun Halloween read-aloud story that neither you nor the kids in your life will be able to resist, whether curled up at home or in a classroom or library setting.
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Linda D. William's tale (HarperCollins, 1986) of an old lady who is chased by shoes, pants, a shirt, gloves, and a hat while walking in the woods one autumn evening receives a wonderful animated treatment here. She tells these objects that she isn't afraid and they should go away. Finally, a spooky pumpkin head sends the little old lady running for home. When the clothes knock on the door, she bravely suggests that they scare the crows in her garden instead. Megan Lloyd's brilliantly-colored illustrations in a folk art-style are animated, adding another dimension to this fun story. Lively narration and wonderful sound effects enhance the telling. In an interview, Williams explains the story behind the book and encourages students to become writers. A great story for Halloween or any time of year.-Jenny Ventling, Dayton Metro Library, OH (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 A delightful picture book, perfect for both independent reading pleasure and for telling aloud. The Little Old Lady. . . is a clever reworking of the classic story of a ghostly body that appears bit by bit (see ``What's the Matter'' in Maria Leach's Whistle in the Graveyard Viking, 1974 ). The humor of the little old lady's fearless attitude and her clever solution as to what to do with the lively shoes, pants, shirt, pumpkin head, etc., that are chasing her, will enchant young audiences. The catchy refrain never falters, and the rhythmic repeated sounds made by each of the woman's pursuers are sure to appeal to children. Lloyd's brilliantly-colored, detailed folk art-style illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. A great purchase for Halloween or any time of the year, and a must for both school and public libraries. Alice Cronin, Belleville Public Library, N.J. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
There is enough action and recurring CLOMP CLOMPs, WIGGLE WIGGLEs and SHAKE SHAKEs in Williams's first story to hold any young reader's attention. A brave old woman begins a walk in the forest where she meets two big shoes. Further down the path, a pair of pants, a shirt, two gloves, a hat and a pumpkin head come into sight, each trying to frighten her. When she's back inside her cottage, a KNOCK KNOCK challenges her to open her door. Again, the shoes, pants, shirt, gloves, hat and pumpkin head try to scare her, but find it impossibly discouraging. These assorted items have a callingto frighten someone or somethingand thanks to the ``little old lady'' they become the nastiest scare-crow ever. The fearless woman's brave showing, and her determination not to be afraid, should strike a note of familiarity with children. Lloyd's dark forest settings, wriggling clothing and homey interiors are a perfect complement to the text. (3-7) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
Several familiar Halloween themes are blended to create a satisfying entertainment which will be especially effective with groups. Walking through the woods, a little old lady is confronted by a pair of shoes, then pants, then a shirt, gloves and a hat, each solo and with its own sound effect. She brusquely banishes each in turn, until she is challenged by a huge jack-o'lantern whose ""Boo!"" sends her scurrying home. When the cumulative apparition follows her and knocks at her door, she recovers enough to announce, ""You can't scare me,"" which has a decidedly deflating effect. Taking pity, she comes up with a solution: the next day there is a scarecrow in her garden. Derivative in its element and with an ending that is a little too neat to resolve the satisfying scariness, this has some nice touches. The colors are bright, the pictures are nicely detailed, and the story moves well. Adults may weary of the endless ""Clomp, Clomp, Wiggle, Wiggle, Shake. Shake,"" but small children, especially in groups, will take it up enthusiastically. A potential Halloween perennial. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Ages 3-6. Written in folkloric style, this is a shivery tale kids will like. A little old lady leaves her cottage, and in the forest she comes across two big shoes going ``CLOMP, CLOMP'' all by themselves. This doesn't scare the woman a whit, nor is she frightened by the pair of pants, shirt, or hat and gloves that subsequently appear in her path. A very large pumpkin head going ``BOO, BOO!'' is another matter, however, and she races home. Back in her cottage, the little old lady's natural bravery returns and, when the pumpkin head reappears, the woman has a suggestion for him. The next morning the pumpkin, now decked out in all the clothes, is a scarecrow in the field keeping away the crows. The cumulative text, with built-in sound effects, makes this a good choice for story hours. Lloyd's full-color artwork gives an atmospheric feeling and captures the sense of fun. Although this is not specifically a Halloween story, it would certainly fit into a holiday program. IC. Fear Fiction [CIP] 85-48250
