Customer Reviews

The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out (Big Time)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This terrific re-telling of the "eensy-weensy (or itsy-bitsy) spider" tale is smart, funny, and visually appealing. It's just long enough to be a perfect read-with-me book, and kids will enjoy the colorful, detailed illustrations and cheerful characters. Perhaps best of all, adults will find the visual jokes quite funny, even after re-reading the book many times. It's already a favorite in my household. Highly recommended for any family that sings "The Eensy-Weensy/Itsy Bitsy Spider" on a daily basis.

This book grabbed my preschoolers attention right away. They love the eensy weensy spider and were curious about why she "freaked out!" Then when they learned that she was SCARED of climbing after she fell, they identified with her... They literally cheered when she overcame her fears. Fun book, good message - a hit at our house.

The eensy weensy spider had all eight legs moving and was climbing up the waterspout. That was exactly what eensy weensy spiders are supposed to do, but when the rain came down and washed her out with a tippy tumble it was just totally embarrassing. Things just didn't happen to her like that and she "freaked out, big-time!" To save face she just yelled at another spider and claimed, "There's no way I'm climbing back up that gutter! If I had a neck, I could have broken it!" Well, news flies fast and before you know it, eensy weensy's failure was spread all over the Web. She read about in on the "Spider Insider" and if it was there you can bet it was on Facebook and Twitter.

She was so upset she stayed in her "garden apartment" and only peeked out around her yellow polka dot curtains. Her friend Polly, a ladybug, finally ambled up her stone walkway to pay her a visit. Eensy Weensy looked totally depressed when Polly tried to talk to her about the incident and claimed she'd "never felt so low." There was no way she was going to try again, but a little teasing goes a long way. "BAWK BAWK! C'mon you big chicken . . . " Blah, blah, blah and Eensy Weensy was out there eying a plant pot. First it was one leg and then the other seven followed. You go girl! She made it to the top of the plant pot, then the fireplug, and even a mailbox. Was Eensy Weensy going to redeem herself for all her fans or was she going prove herself to be a big failure?

This zany fractured fairy tale starring the "new" Eensy Weensy Spider will give your little one a case of the giggles. Eensy Weensy and her unexpected fall from grace on the Web has been very popular with the eensy weensy ones in my neck of the woods. She learns that you simply cannot hide under a rock (or in a garden apartment) and expect to succeed at anything. This book shows that she was daring and willing to try climbing again even though she tumbled down that spout. The surprising little twist at the end will have everyone smiling. The "new" Eensy Weensy was a lot of fun and if you like your fairy tales sprinkled with a bit of humor, this is one fractured fairy tale you might want to consider!

Securely wrapped with enough packing material (but not too much). Delivered to the correct address. I will buy this book from Amazon again next time.

I read a lot of reviews that say things like, "My kid keeps making me read this book, I hate it for this and that reason." The point is my kids like it and yours probably will too. The fact that I don't is irrelevant.

Where I come from, this nursery rhyme spider is commonly known as the Itsy Bitsy Spider. A bit of internet detective work turns up that it also acceptable to use Incy Wincy or Eensy Weensy. No matter the name variation, most of us are familiar with the tale as it is one of the more popular nursery rhymes. Have you ever considered that the spider might be a bit disoriented by the big wash off the waterspout? What happens if she isn't soothed by the sun coming out?

Not only does Eensy Weensy freak out big time after the waterspout incident, there just happens to be a news reporter on site who records it. Embarrassed, she holes up in her garden apartment until her ladybug friend comes to talk some sense into her. Instead of climbing right back onto that fickle spout, the spider starts out smaller - climbing a flower pot. With one successful climb under her belt, she moves onto a fire hydrant and then a dog.

Eensy is feeling so good about her successes that she just keeps climbing and climbing. Before we know it, she scales that waterspout with no hesitation, then scoots clear across a telephone line to a wrecking crane high in the sky. That's high enough, right? Not for this spider. She climbs to the top of a hotel, to a radio tower and manages to end up on the tip-top of a rocket. There you have it - space travel is what happens when a spider freaks out big time!

I like that the story works off an old familiar nursery rhyme, in an updated fashion. After her initial hesitation, she works up some courage and gradually starts to regain her confidence. I can see how this would be a useful parenting tool as a little "remember when the spider was scared to climb again?" encouragement. The video below is set to a jazzy little rendition of the spider song we know and love. Enjoy!

This book is quite good, but what I'm really excited about is the author's forthcoming book of creative recipes for pet roosters.

This is a cute picture book. The illustrations are kid friendly and complement the text well, and the story has a good message. This little spider freaks out when she's washed out that spout and swears off climbing for good. It's only with the help of a friendly ladybug that she is able to start climbing again - a little bit at a time. This message is a good one that kids can stand to hear again and again and who better to tell them than the spider they are all familiar with? The spider does not give up and goes on to even greater heights just because she didn't let a setback like a little rain ruin her fun. Great story.

My only problem here is that with a title like that, I was expecting a lot more humour! I thought there would be a lot more actual freaking out, but that was only a small part of the story. I didn't feel the drama and I wish the characters would have been a bit more expressive. I think I was just missing the big reactions and gags that would have turned this into a great story time read. Still a fan, but just a touch disappointed.

I was so very glad to see that this is, in fact, a book. I checked out the hardcover version from the library, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cover was, indeed, hard. The pages were pleasantly page-like, and the title did its job nicely. The product description promised "...text...and...art," and sure enough, it had BOTH!

This one should quiet all the cynics out there!