The Lady and the Spider (Reading Rainbow) [Paperback]

Faith McNulty (Author), Bob Marstall (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 1987 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Reading Rainbow

A spider has made her home among the green hills and valleys of a lettuce leaf. It is a perfect den, just the right size, with a dewdrops pool nearby that will catch moths on moonlit nights. How is the spider to know that the lady intends to eat that very lettuce for lunch one day?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The life of a spider, happily at home in a head of lettuce, is endangered when the gardener decides to have lettuce for lunch. A Reading Rainbow selection. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3 Soft pastel drawings complement the simple text of this serene tale of a green spider who makes its home in a lettuce patch. The spider finds shelter and food when dew gathers in the concave curls of the lettuce leaves. Drama enters when the lady who owns the garden harvests the lettuce for lunch. She discovers the spider among the leaves in the kitchen sink and is about to discard it with the trash when she suddenly takes a good, long look and marvels at its perfection and will to live. The lady returns the spider to the garden and places it on a new plant to resume its useful, busy life. The descriptions of a spider's daily life are fascinating, and the quiet mood is perfectly conveyed by the delicate, yet true-to-life illustrations. The book's message, that all life has value, is powerful, all the more so for being understated. The tale of a spider's life has been done before (Margaret B. Graham's Be Nice to Spiders Harper, 1967 and Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider Philomel, 1984) but neither are told so simply or so well. Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (July 20, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064431525
• ISBN-13: 978-0064431521
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,105,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A heartwarming story of compassion., July 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lady and the Spider (Reading Rainbow) (Paperback)

Told from a spider's perspective, this story details the life and near demise of a small creature. At the last moment the lady of the story demonstrates compassion and returns the spider to the garden where he can live a long and happy life. This story is filled with rich illustrations and captivating text. Good for children 3-5 but riveting for those 5-8. The message is one we all should hear.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, June 16, 2005

By 

R_A_P_2005 "R_A_P2005" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lady and the Spider (Reading Rainbow) (Paperback)

Truly a classic in compassion. A great book for budding naturalists as well. Ever since I first read it, I can't pass a patch of green in the garden without wondering how many little creatures think of that straight line of salad-to-be as their forest and homes....

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the life of a garden spider, July 2, 2004

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Lady and the Spider (Reading Rainbow) (Paperback)

A spider lives in a head of lettuce until the day the gardener decides to make a salad for lunch. Over the length of the book, the reader begins to identify with the spider, so the woman's mercy on discovering her visitor is welcome, and teaches a lesson in our connectedness to other creatures. Pastel art is comforting and quiet. (The book does discuss the spider's eating insects, in case that's not appealing to you.)