Chomp On: I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

In a wild-and-crazy take off on the venerable There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, author Alison Jackson is off and running in this slapstick tribute to holiday gluttony!

As a plumpish relative appears at the door with her contribution to the feast, a pie, she jumps the gun and eats the whole thing before she crosses the threshold. Trouble is, the Thanksgiving pie is "really too dry," and she's forced to gulp down some "cider, that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her." Seeking satiety, the old lady, to the amazement of the hosts and the incredulous delight of the watching kids, proceeds to put away rolls, a butternut squash, a salad ("which left her quite pallid") a whole turkey ("her future looking murky"), a huge stockpot, ("I kid you not") a cake ("for goodness sake"), and some bread ("I'm full," she said) before she finally stops.

By this time, her body has swollen to heroic proportions and is beginning to rise like a zeppelin. Not to worry, however. This old lady is put to proper Thanksgiving use: secured by mooring cables, she becomes an cheerfully bobbing blimp in the traditional Macy's Thanksgiving parade.

Children who hear this story begin to chime in on the cumulative refrain immediately, finishing each repetition with "the Thanksgiving pie which was really too dry! Perhaps she'll die!"

Judith Schachner's wiggly pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings capture all the over-the-top fun in this cheery tribute to hearty holiday chowing down. If you're planning a Thanksgiving dinner with plenty of children, I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie is the perfect guest, one that will get everyone in a jolly feasting mood.