Diary of a Spider [Hardcover]

Doreen Cronin (Author), Harry Bliss (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

This is the diary ... of a spider.

But don't be worried – he's more scared of you and your gigantic shoe! Actually, he's a lot like you. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents' Day at school. But he also spins sticky webs, scales walls, and takes wind–catching lessons. Lucky for him, his best friend is a fly!

Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 bestselling Diary Of A Worm, spin a hilarious tale about the upside–down web world of an eight–legged charmer and his unlikely friend, Fly.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Cronin and Bliss repeat the comic ingredients that made Diary of a Worm so successful in this rib-tickling sequel. This time the diary is written by Worm's friend Spider and filled with similar verbal high jinks, deadpan humor and visual jokes that offer readers a whimsical glimpse of the world from a small creature's point of view. Endpapers feature photos of Spider's family as well as his favorite book (Charlotte's Web), his discovery of a "neat sculpture!" (a toilet bowl) and a playbill from his school's production of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (a review blurb by Worm says, "You'll dig this play"). Children will relate to the book's droll humor, as when Spider goes to the park with his sister ("We tried the seesaw. It didn't work") or when he takes his molted skin for show-and-tell. A slight story line about the tension between Spider's friendship with Fly and his Grampa's prejudice against all six-legged bugs threads together the amusing vignettes. (When Grampa says, "Without spiders, insects could take over the world," Bliss features a menacing alien bug as President of the United States.) This endearing book delivers a gentle message that comes through when Spider muses, "I wish that people wouldn't judge all spiders based on the few spiders that bite. I know if we took the time to get to know each other, we would get along just fine. Just like me and Fly." Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–Children who enjoyed Diary of a Worm (HarperCollins, 2003) will be enchanted by this artistic team's latest collaboration. This time, Spider is the star. Through his humorous diary entries, readers learn about typical events in the life of a young spider. When Spider's mom tells him he's getting too big for his skin, he molts. Fly's feelings are hurt by a thoughtless comment from Daddy Longlegs, and Spider tries to help. He is concerned that he will have to eat leaves and rotten tomatoes when he has a sleepover with Worm. Spider's school doesn't have fire drills; it has vacuum drills (…vacuums eat spiderwebs and are very, very dangerous). Grampa tells him that spider-fly relations have improved over the years and shares the secret of long life–don't fall asleep in shoes. The amusing pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons, complete with funny asides in dialogue balloons, expand the sublime silliness of some of the scenarios.–Beverly Combs, Webb Middle School, Garland, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060001534
• ISBN-13: 978-0060001537
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders

More About the Author

Doreen Cronin is the successful author of many bestselling picture books, including Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure; Bounce; Wiggle; Duck for President; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Dooby Dooby Moo; and the Caldecott Honor Book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful!, August 10, 2005

By 

Camille "at the BookMoot!" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Diary of a Spider (Hardcover)

Doreen Cronin has penned another wonderful "diary." Like her "Diary of a Worm" Cronin has interwoven facts with whimsy. We learn that spiders are NOT insects and they molt. Spider is friends with Worm from the previous book and also with Fly although his Grampa says in HIS day spiders and flies did not get along.

In school young spiders are warned about the dangers of vacuums and have vacuum drills.

He says, "If we hear a vacuum we should "Stop, Drop and Run!"

When they say the Pledge of Allegiance, their flag is a panel from a Spiderman comic book showing the American flag. In many ways Spider's day is like any kid's with a sleep-over and time with friends.

The clever illustrations by Henry Bliss add additional humor. As in "Diary of a Worm," the endpapers are full of great vignettes,such as, "Favorite book: Charlotte's Web."

This book is a natural pick for elementary school libraries and teacher gifts. The two diaries would also be a "must-have" for junior high libraries to complement life science units. My former students tell me they are never read to in junior high. Class periods are only about 50 minutes long so Cronin's books would fit perfectly and work well with any curriculum.

Her humor is simple yet savvy and has appeal for all ages. Her "Duck for President" is essential during presidential election years.

After reading this book I will NEVER forget that spiders are NOT insects. There is so much to see in the pictures and the text is so entertaining you will want to read it again and again.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bright illustrations and easy to follow for little ones..., February 7, 2007

By 

T. Holder (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Spider (Hardcover)

We love Doreen Cronin's books in our house and this did not disappoint us. We love the illustrations and the story. The kids thought the wisdom shared between the two spiders could be used in their lives as well. Easy for preschoolers to follow and enjoy reading over again.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny!, January 15, 2007

By 

Claudene E. Blake "Blondie" (Southlake, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Spider (Hardcover)

This is a funny story but a bit long for my 5 and 6 year olds. I enjoyed it and maybe in a year they will be able to appreciate and understand it a bit more.