There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider



Last updated Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Author: Jennifer Ward
Illustrator: Steve Gray
Date of Publication: 2015
ISBN: 1477826378
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Oct. 2024

Synopsis: A new play on the familiar song - as the old mummy makes his way across a graveyard and through a haunted castle, he swallows all kinds of creepy things. From a rat to witches' brew, and a crow to a spooky ghost, this mummy keeps swallowing and swallowing… until finally there's a knock on the door. Trick or treat!

Note to readers:
•  Rhyming book.
•  Don’t forget to read the tombstone inscriptions.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you seen a spider in your home before?
•  Have you been inside a haunted house before?
•  What is wrapped around the mummy’s body?
•  What place do you think the house on the front cover is located in?

Vocabulary

•  Swallowed – to consume food or drink.
•  Moan – make a long, low sound expressing physical or mental suffering.
•  Brew – a mixture, usually liquid, of various elements. A magical potion created by a witch.
•  Twitch – sudden jerking or uncontrolled shaking of the body.
•  Cackling – laughing in a loud, harsh way.

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Have you seen a rat before?
•  Have you seen a crow fly in the sky before?
•  Can you name some of the bones on your body (rib, skull, spine)?
•  What do you think is being brewed in the witch’s cauldron?
•  Do you think the mummy is full after swallowing all these creatures and items?

Craft ideas:
•  Make one of the creatures from the book.
•  Spider – Cut out two circles, one bigger than the other. Use yarn or string as legs.
•  Mummy – Cut out two circles, one bigger than the other to make the head and body. Use string as bandage to cover the mummy’s body.
•  Crow – Cut out two circles, one bigger than the other to make the body of the crow. Cut an additional two small circles for the eye and a triangle for the beak. Use string to make the legs/feet of the crow.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!