Are You a Spider? (Backyard Books) - Softcover

Allen, Judy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0753456095 ISBN 13: 9780753456095

Publisher: Kingfisher, 2003

Synopsis

Did you know that when a spider's web is damaged, a spider will often eat the remaining silk before making a new one? Young children will make many amazing discoveries about spiders in the captivating Backyard Books: Are You a Spider? by Judy Allen with illustrations by Tudor Humphries.

About this title

About the Author:

Author Judy Allen and illustrator Tudor Humphries created Kingfisher's award-winning Backyard Books series and many other successful books, including the Reading Rainbow selections Tiger and Seal. Tudor Humphries' recent titles include Hiding and A Floating World. Judy Allen is an award-winning author whose novel Awaiting Developments was short-listed for the Whitbread Children's Novel Award. Judy Allen and illustrator Tudor Humphries created Kingfisher's award-winning Backyard Books series and many other successful books, including the Reading Rainbow selections Tiger and Seal.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Two attractive introductions to creatures likely to be found in backyards and empty lots. Beginning with the title questions, the simple, conversational texts go on to present various facets of the lives of the featured animals. As newly hatched butterflies, readers are reassured, "Your wings are crumpled. They look terrible. Don't worry." As spiders, they are warned, "If you catch a wasp in your web, don't try to eat it." Ultimately, readers are returned to human childhood and given a couple of pages of extra data about their fanciful incarnations. The softly colored, realistic illustrations depict caterpillars/butterflies and spiderlings/spiders going about their daily lives, keeping step with the text, and the focus comes back to a group of children at the close. Small carps-the butterflies have a pair of parents; the spiders only a mother. Neither species is identified, and some spiders do not spin elaborate webs. These titles are somewhat reminiscent of Mick Manning's equally engaging A Ruined House (1996) and Karen Wallace's Red Fox (1994, both Candlewick). Readers will find Butterfly and Spider comforting and helpful, with touches of humor scattered throughout.
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Kingfisher
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0753456095
• ISBN 13: 9780753456095
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 31
• Illustrator: Humphries Tudor