Spider Books

This is a darling book. Simple and cute. My child read it with ease.

My daughter and I both love this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the little story is very sweet. I also think that the story behind the book is very sweet, too - that Mrs. Arandus wrote the book for a student in the special education department where she worked using only words that he knew, so that he would have a book to read. I can't wait for the next one!

I stumbled upon Ghost Wings at the public library a week after the death of my mother-in-law. I was trying to find a book that would help my four-year-old deal with the loss. Ghost Wings is an amazing book. Its illustrations are gorgeous, but it is the story that captures the essence of a child's confusion and pain. It also deals with the acceptance stage of the grieving process. Although we aren't there yet, this magical story has made it possible for my daughter to understand that her grandma will never truly be gone, that "the old ones" are never far away. Every time we see a butterfly, monarch or otherwise, we are reminded of the spirits of those we have lost.

This book takes the reader into the beautiful world of Mexican culture through a sweet story and amazing illustrations. I read Ghost Wings to a first grade art class and they really enjoyed learning about Los Dias de los Muertos and how the little girl in the story participated in the festivities. The full page illustrations perfectly bring the poetic story to life. At the end of the book there are some interesting projects and ideas that can be done with children. There is also a helpful explaination section, full of details about the Day of the Dead holiday and Mexican culture. I think every children's library should have a copy of this book.

(written by my 9 year old and authorized by me)

This is one of a series of books about animals that I am reading as a project for school. This book gave me information in a quick amount of time but not with impossible to read sentences. The Words To Know section (glossary) helped me to understand words I didn't know so I didn't have to have a dictionary right beside me. If you get confused writing your report, you can find the page on the subject you want to find in the Index. It's nothing special but it is helpful. In the Learning More section (reference), I liked that it had books, videos and websites for more information, not just books. There were wonderful pictures in color that really helped me understand what crickets, grasshoppers and katydids look like. I recommend this book to everybody because if you want to learn more about a North American kind of cricket or grasshopper all you have to do is look in this book for quick but good information.

A short book of just over 40 pages but really great into to these insects! Each page has a big color photo of the cricket/grasshopper being discussed and the opposing page has text about it. The book is broken out into where you're likely to find the particular critter: desert, fields/meadows, woods, your house. Pictures are good and the text is interesting - often caught myeslf saying, "huh. I didn't know that." It might be written more for school kids but this 30+ year old kid learned a bunch :)

Harry the Poisonous Centipede's BIG Adventure.
Author:Lynne Reid Banks.
Harry (actually Hxzlt) and George get caught by a Hoo-Min. They plan an escape but get caught by a flying bird who tries to eat them. Then they get thrown into the sea. They manage to hold on somehow. Will they ever make it back to their home. Find out by reading this amazing book. Go on an adventure with Harry and George, two centipede's that will do anything to get home.
Review by: Frances

This sequel about Harry (actually, Hxzltl, in Centipedish) and his friend George again takes the bugs out from down-under (ground, that is), into the forbidden Up-Pipe and the world of the HOO-MINS.

Here, the bug boys are caught in hard-air-prisons (jars), meet a tarantula, learn about rain and discover why it's important (sometimes) to listen to grown-ups.

I wasn't at all amused by their antics, but my opinion doesn't count. My 10-year old critter loves Harry and his friend. He likes animals, loves bugs, and adores rebellious characters. More than once, Harry has kept him up at night, reading under the covers. He's plowed through this book three times in the last month.

Perfect for second, third or fourth grade readers who prefer illustrated chapter books, the 180-page further adventures of a many-footed mischief-maker will delight kids of the same spirit. Alyssa A. Lappen

The story is read by the author. She has a lovely voice and a beautiful English accent. (Like Julie Andrews) The story is delightful, original. The talent of the author is very obvious. It begins: "Harry was a poisonous centipede. You may think that's not a nice thing to be, but Harry thought it was fine. He'd anything else and he liked being what he was..." Unless you have a beautiful English accent, I recomend the audio tape. I think this story is perfect for ages 4 - 9.

My children listened to Harry the Poisonous Centipede on cassette tape and loved it. Lynn Reid Banks voice is captivating. This is such an entertaining story, but also gives interesting details about the life of a centipede. It is recommended for listeners ages 8 and up, but even my 3 year old wanted to hear it again and again.

The perfect combination of all existing publications on these wonderful animals, put together and written by specialists in each of the topics covered. The outcome could not have been better: a complete and detailed biology of opiliones up to date. Even more, it enlightens researches and students into contributing to the yet unknown paths of harvestmen biology.

A remarkable, informative and insightful read into a myriad number of biological aspects regarding this often overlooked group (Opiliones). This important work will become the standard reference on Opiliones for years to come. A must read and must have for any arachnological reference collection.

Another in the adventures of Hector the wonderful wumblebug. We love him and all his friends and were so happy when this came out so we could see more of this funny guy. My kids love these books and don't even realize that they are learning a little about the natural world when we read them. We especially like the wumblepups in this book. Very funny - get this book for your early readers!

Hector on Thin Ice by Elizabeth Shreeve is the fourth and final book in the wonderfully written and entertaining seasonal series "The Adventures of Hector Fuller." These short chapter books make exciting read-alouds for 1-4 graders and are appropriate for readers in that age group who are ready for chapter books. The books have for a main character a reluctantly adventurous wumblebug who steps into the world with a healthy dose of trepidation and good will. His love for and attachment to family, friends and home spur him on to acts of great daring and sacrifice.

In Hector on Thin Ice, Hector is desperately trying to dig out a new home before deep winter, his old home having been destroyed by a flood in the previous book, Hector Afloat. When his bad-joking brother and his large family arrive unexpectedly and tell Hector they have come to stay, it is too much for the red wumblebug. He wanders out into the snow and almost freezes before being rescued by a little niece and nephew. The whole family decides to work together to expand Hector's hole but the additions soon lead them into the domain of many other hibernating creatures and his fearless niece thinks nothing about waking them up. Soon an ant lion is after them and, after an exciting chase scene, it is Hector's turn to come to the rescue.

As a 2nd-3rd grade teacher, I have seen first-hand how appealing The Adventures of Hector Fuller books are to 7 - 10 year olds. Hector Fuller's conflicting feelings over his desire to stay close to all that is known and loved and the big world out there, which ever beckons him forward, is familiar to these children, as they take their first tenuous steps away from childhood.

THIS BOOK IS PRICELESS! SHOWS SO VERY MUCH INDEED WITHOUT BEING BOARING OR SCARY (COLORFUL DRAWING TYPE PICs) OUR SONS READ IT TO EACH OTHER A FEW TIMES! WE ALSO HAVE GAIL GIBBONS FROG BOOK!
IF YOUR WILDLIFE WARRIORS THESE BOOKS SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR COLLECTION
AS WELL..... SAVE THE BEEs!!! HAAGEN DIAZ ICE CREAM HAS A FUND FOR BEE AIDE WITH A FLAVOUR CALLED: VANILLA HONEYBEE IN SUPERMARKETS
PLANT SUNFLOWERS DONT USE CHEMICAL BUG KILLERS (BEES ARE ENDANGERED)

This is an excellent book reviewing the basics of bee anatomy and the honey making process, not only for children but also for novice beekeepers. Beautiful illustrations as well.

My children and I always anxiously await any new addition to our Eric Carle library. It's hard to believe that our next book will meet our high expectations, but they always do. The honeybee and the Robber was a new angle to his interactive collection which we thoroughly enjoyed. My children had plenty of opportunity to share the moving pictures and read the book over and over.The beauty of this book is that the children enjoy "reading" it to themselves using the moving parts to stir their imagination

Eric Carle, the king of colorful collage, has been delighting young readers for sometime now. This sturdy board book reissue of his 1981 classic is simply another jewel in his crown.

Bug-eyed, red nosed and eager, a honeybee exhorts her neighbors to go out and gather nectar. Pull a tab, and you'll see her fly. Another tab opens flower petals so the bees can sip nectar.

She's a swift honeybee, this one, as her tab-told story unfolds - she escapes a bird, a fish, and a frog to play with a vibrant winged pop-up butterfly.

But once she returns to her hive she hears a frightening noise. She thinks it must be a robber. What kind of a robber would try to steal their honey? What can the bees do to defend themselves. Pull some more tabs, and you'll see.!

Easy for young hands, a delight for young eyes, and a smile for the young at heart.

As the father of an eight year old who is not particularly interested in science, I am always looking for science themed books that will capture my son's attention. Honeybees is just such a book. My son (and my daughter and I) found the story of the honeybee's life to be intriguing. Their society is truly fascinating. Heiligman's text is well written and informative. Carla Golembe's colorful illustrations are exquisite, imaginative and accurate at the same time. A most impressive accomplishment.

Ever wondered how bees make honey? Dive into this lively informative book about bees and find out why " Busy as a bee" is not an idle statement! Discover which bees work, feed, fly and warn the hive of possible attacks. The book is well written, vividly illustrated and artistically designed. Notice the end papers!Deborah Heiligman takes a complicated concept and explains it in carefully chosen clarifying details. Add this to your home library. You'll return to it, again and again.