Old Black Fly

Jim Aylesworth's raucous alphabet romp follows a pesky fly causing glorious household chaos from A to Z before meeting its well-deserved end. Stephen Gammell's splatter-paint illustrations burst off every page with the same wild energy as the chant itself, and the read-aloud rhythm is so infectious that parents will find themselves performing it whether they planned to or not. It sneaks alphabet learning in through sheer comedic fun. The one honest caveat is that the humor runs loud and broad — quieter families may find it a bit much at bedtime. But as a preschool storytime pick or an energetic morning read, it is hard to beat. A genuine crowd-pleaser.