A fly flees from a frog that’s being chased by a cat that is running from a dog . . . and that’s just the beginning! A Fly Went By is a 50-year-old classic story that builds and builds as a brave little boy tries to find out why everyone is chasing everyone else—and ends with him discovering that it’s all a big misunderstanding! As you read this story aloud, you may wish to soften some of the vocabulary according to today’s times and preferences, or use it as a springboard for discussion with an older child.

Tie-in Activity: Let your finger be a “fly” and move it in front of your baby’s face as you make buzzing sounds—then let it “land” on him with a tickle. Or have a role-play “chase” game using toy animals, and help your older child practice using words to face imagined fears.