The Database Of All The Reviews

Once I knew a Spider

Jennifer Owings Dewey

Illustrations by Jean Cassels

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 8

Walker, 2002, 0-8027-8700-2

  A mother is waiting for the arrival of her first baby when she sees that a spider is spinning her web in a window frame. Attentively the mother watches as the spider spins away until she has a beautiful web which she will use to catch her meals. From the design of her web the young woman can tell that the spider is a common orb weaver.

  The woman’s pregnancy advances and, as she gets bigger, she watches the spider catch her prey and wrap it up in silk. One day the young woman watches as the spider lays her eggs. Carefully the spider wraps up the cluster of eggs with silk so that they will be protected.

  When the mother’s baby girl arrives the mother spider is still hanging in her web in the window. With pride the mother shows her baby to her spider friend, and the little family wait to see what will happen next to their eight-legged tenant. Winter is approaching and most insects and spiders die when the cooler months arrive. The events of the next months are a source of both wonder and a little anxiety to the young mother and her husband.

  Told in the first person, this intimate account of the relationship that a young woman has with a female spider is moving and memorable. We not only come to appreciate how much the young mother admires her spider neighbor, but we also can sense the respect that she has for nature and for all living things.

  Beautifully written and illustrated, this is the perfect book to read to a child. Children will discover that even a little spider is precious and miraculous.

 

An Online Children’s Book Review Journal

Through The Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews

Online book reviews for the child in your life featuring both new and popular children's book authors

 

Kids book reviews, including book reviews of chapter books, novels, picture books, and non-fiction from famous children’s literature authors. Your review site of books for children.