Synopsis
Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.
Children's Literature
From the front cover to the last page, Simon uses absolutely stunning visuals as he presents information about spiders in clearly-written, understandable prose without talking down to his reader. Each image appears to align with the information on its page; however, the lack of captions is a significant flaw in this otherwise excellent nonfiction book. Simon covers general and specific physical characteristics, as well as behavioral traits of many spiders, often with a sense of awe: "Jumping spiders can leap .40 times the length of its own body," the equivalent of a person jumping the length of two basketball courts and sinking the ball! His use of relative examples like this helps make the information accessible. Scientific terms and their meanings are woven into the text to facilitate understanding. Simon wisely builds on the power of the book's images to draw the reader into the text. Those who take the time to read as well as to look will be richly rewarded. This Smithsonian/Collins edition is a slightly-repackaged version of the 2003 HarperCollins edition. There are small changes in layout, design, and size as well as more identified spiders. Reviewer: Peg Glisson