Miss Spider's New Car [Hardcover]

David Kirk (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Miss Spider

A wild ride through more than 15 revved-up paintings showing Miss Spider and her new husband, Holly, in the bug buggy marketplace. "Kirk's seemingly boundless imagination zips along at impressive speed." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

David Kirk, creator of the bestselling favorites Miss Spider's Tea Party and Miss Spider's Wedding, has created another deliciously quirky, rhyming Miss Spider adventure. This time the amiable arachnid is car-shopping with her husband Holley. At Mantis Motors, a praying mantis named Mik is a used car sales-insect: "Mik Mantis crooned, 'This honey runs/On Nectar from a flower./Its two-stem engine is equipped/With turbo-bumble power,/And capable of reaching speeds/Near ninety yards per hour!'"

Miss (or is it now Mrs.?) Spider and Holley explore other car lots (including Meg's Wings n' Things) and encounter a few near misses, but all ends well thanks to the help of benevolent Moth Sue. The book's clever and original verse is laced with subtle ironies that won't be lost on you or your little ones; in the first spread, for example, a note arrives "snail mail," because the postal carrier is a snail. Kirk's exuberant, luminous colors and hilarious, cartoonish depictions of the bug world are truly wonderful. Miss Spider's New Car is the perfect book for any child who loves cars or bugs--not to mention a clever gift for any adult itching to buy his or her dream car. (Ages 4 to 8)

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?Upon receiving an invitation to tea from her mother, Miss Spider takes her husband's advice and shops for a new car. (Only on the jacket copy is Holley recognized as Miss Spider's new husband.) Together they test drive several fanciful models: some powered by wings and jumping legs, and others with leaves, grass, twigs, and other plant parts. At last, they try out the "Inferno," powered by matches, but the steering locks, the brakes fail, and they jump to avoid an explosion. Miss Spider then decides to return to the first car she saw, the blue one at Bub Bumble Bee's. However, Holley has secretly arranged for Moth Sue to purchase that car as a surprise for his wife. Miss Spider's disappointment at missing out on her favorite vehicle turns to delight when she spies the dazzling, "just right" little car on her own lawn. The energetic verse conveys the movement of the vehicles. Full-color, cartoonlike paintings, rendered in jewel tones, depict each eventful test drive on full- or double-page spreads. With judicious use of light, varied perspectives, and a fluid line that indicates motion, the lavish, enthusiastic pictures extend the text. This outing will be good for storytimes or one-on-one sharing so children can explore the details of the illustrations. Young readers will enjoy this exuberant companion to the earlier books.?Cynthia K. Richey, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590307134
• ISBN-13: 978-0590307130
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 12.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Kirk grew up in Ohio, USA, where he learned about insects and painting. He has been making toys and artwork for children for fifteen years and lives with his daughter, Violet, in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Pictures, July 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Miss Spider's New Car (Board book)

Quite by accident we stumbled upon MISS SPIDER"S TEA PARTY when my granddaughter was five. That book was to be touched,read, and taken to bed a many nights before she fell in love with the next one (MISS SPIDER'S WEDDING). The rhyming does not take away from the message of virtues that can be found in any culture. Holley is her hero because he wears glasses and shows kindness. We have collected all of Mr. Kirk's books and can't wait for future books to be presented. The vividness and texture of the pages held her attention long after we had finished reading a particular page. She clapped and cheered for Holley and wanted explanations of phrases that at that time was beyond her comprehension. Now she reads these books herself and although she has them memorized by heart; she still turns page by page to view the characters and touch the colors. What a wonderful way to start on the pathway of reading for fun.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chuggy Buggy is the Best, June 5, 2003

By 

E. Suter "erindipity" (D'Iberville, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Spider's New Car (Hardcover)

My daughter loves the line about the Chuggy Buggy and this is her favorite of the Miss Spider books. Of the three it is the one we read the most. She loves it and I have to admit it is pretty fun.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the strongest entry in the series, May 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Miss Spider's New Car (Hardcover)

The illstrations, while vivid, are a bit obtuse and difficult to discern. The prose doesn't flow. The book simply can't stand alone the way the "counting Book" and Miss Spider's Mom, do. If your child is hooked on Miss Spider, then this will be a fun addition to your collection, but it shouldn't be your first choice.