There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick!
by Lucille Colandro
Scholastic Inc. 2012
Great fit for 2nd grade
Reading level and content both target K–3rd grade · ages 5–9
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Genre
Themes
- rhyme and repetition
- humor and silliness
- sequencing and prediction
- Easter and springtime
- cause and effect
- cumulative tales
- problem solving
About this book
This playful spin on the classic cumulative rhyme follows a very hungry old lady as she swallows Easter-themed items—from a chick to a bow—with silly, surprising results. Bouncy rhymes and repeating patterns invite kids to read along and predict what comes next. Bright, funny illustrations make it a favorite for storytime, especially around Easter and spring. Perfect for pre-K to early elementary readers building fluency, rhyme recognition, and sequencing skills.
Setting: a playful, springtime world on Easter day
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! right for my child?
Yes — There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! is a great fit for 2nd grade. The reading level is AR 2.1, which is typical for 2nd grade. The interest level is rated Lower Grades (K–3), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 5–9 (K–3rd grade). Themes include rhyme and repetition, humor and silliness, sequencing and prediction.
How long does it take to read There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick!?
At a typical 2nd grade reading pace, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! takes around 4m to finish. The book has 430 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! have an AR quiz?
Yes — There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! has an AR quiz available, worth 0.5 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick!?
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! has an AR reading level of 2.1, which places it at a 2nd grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Lower Grades (K–3) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.