The story kicks off with young Zack building a house with blocks--until a fly comes along. "This is the cat / that stalked the fly..." This version drops the cumulative repetition of the original rhyme, but the spirited rhythm holds true. Bold digital art in warm colors depicts a friendly farm on which Zack, oblivious to the mayhem, continues to build his creation.

Playing on the traditional nursery rhyme, this farm-set version kicks off with young Zack (last seen in Hickory Dickory Dog, rev. 9/14) building a house with blocks until a fly comes along and upsets the whole apple-cart. “This is the cat / that stalked the fly / that BUZZED on by, / over the house that Zack built.” In pursuit, the cat knocks over the cream, which spills on the dog, who scatters the lambs, leaving the farm in complete disarray. Through it all, the fly’s playful flight-line carries viewers on a wild path from page to page. This version drops the cumulative repetition of the original rhyme, but the spirited rhythm holds true throughout. Bold digital art in warm colors depicts a friendly farm on which Zack, oblivious to the mayhem, continues to build his creation. When he finally looks up from his miraculously undisturbed blocks and sees the state of the farm, he sets about putting things in order and sending that pesky fly on its way. This gives the cat, the dog, and viewers a final chance to stop and admire the house that Zack built -- a miniature version of the farm’s red barn. julie roach

A new version of a beloved classic. In this version of the traditional English nursery rhyme, Zack is building a house out of blocks when mayhem ensues. A fluttering fly is the culprit. It buzzes over, which attracts the cat, who spills some cream, which falls on the dog, who upsets the lambs, and all together this creates a terrible mess on the farm! What can Zack do to save the day? And with all of this going on, will he ever be able to finish building his house? While the cumulative nature of the rhyme is somewhat lost as each new character is introduced, the rhymes are fresh and new and work nearly as well as those in the original. Young listeners will enjoy each crisp, bouncing line as they examine the carefully selected details in the warm, appealing, and colorful depictions of each action-packed segment of the whole event. Murray's digital illustrations feature crisp, pastel backgrounds whose geometricity evokes Esphyr Slobodkina. Human and animal characters created with loose, flowing lines are an effective counterpoint. Perfect for giggling and sharing and right on target for lap-time reading. (Picture book. 2-5)

PreS-K-Murray brings back Zack, an easygoing mop-haired boy, and his super-cute dog, Rufus, from Hickory Dickory Dog (Candlewick, 2014). This version of the cumulative rhyme includes a dead rat, a tattered man, and a sudden wedding among the verses and preserves-even possibly enhances-the bounce and sway of the original. The trouble starts with a farmyard fly, and an engaging tale ensues: "This is the cat/that stalked the fly/that BUZZED on by,/over the house that Zack built." The rest of the tale involves a pitcher of cream, a sleeping dog, some runaway lambs, and a happy ending. No harm is done, not even to the fly. The colorful, catchy illustrations are high-contrast with large, readable text and lively action (including the wiggly path of the fly) on every page. VERDICT Pair this title with Simms Taback's This Is the House that Jack Built (Putnam, 2002) for a storytime filled with fun cumulative tales.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.