Spiders and Their Web Sites [Hardcover]

Margery Facklam (Author), Alan Male (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Illustrations and text provide a close-up look at the physical characteristics and habits of twelve different spiders and daddy-longlegs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-This title boasts a clearly written, well-organized text, as well as an eye-catching, colorful format. A baker's dozen of arachnids-12 spiders and a spider look-alike-the daddy longlegs-are profiled in two-page sections. The lucid text briefly describes each creature's major physical and behavioral characteristics, focusing on the ways in which it employs spider silk. Featured creatures include the tarantula, black widow, purse web, bolas, and spitting spider. Alternating with the text is a full-color, close-up painting of the featured arachnid in action, usually with freshly captured prey. Smaller, labeled illustrations appear in a wide margin at the bottom of each page. Some show a particular process, such as the different stages of web construction or the stalking and capturing of prey; others diagram various body parts, such as fangs, poison ducts, etc., or depict related species. There's one minor omission-the book fails to list any arachnid Web sites. As the title itself plays on the word, their absence is puzzling. Jennifer Owings Dewey's Spiders Near and Far (Dutton, 1993; o.p.) and Sandra Markle's Outside and Inside Spiders (Atheneum, 1994) both provide more information on spider anatomy, general physical and behavioral characteristics, and reproduction. Although Facklam's title lacks the depth of these titles, it has definite browser appeal and will make a useful addition to natural-history sections.

Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. This entertaining book revolves around the idea that contemporary Web-site designers do something spiders perfected millions of years ago: they lure visitors to complex communication centers. Facklam, a veteran writer of children's science books, takes a look at 12 different spiders and the daddy long legs (a cousin to the spider), the eggs they hatch, and the webs they weave. She briskly introduces a wealth of information on the architectronics and psychology of web design and the physical characteristics of spiders, never losing sight of her target audience. Along the way, she fills the text with arresting facts--among them, spider silk, stronger than any other natural fiber, was used in bomb sights in World War II fighter planes. She also includes the kind of satisfyingly gross stuff some kids love: spiders don't eat their food, they envelop it in their vomit, wait for it to become liquid, and then drink it. Male's full-color illustrations add lavish, sometimes chilling details. A glossary and suggestions for further reading round out a fine book for students and interested children alike. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1st edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316273295
• ISBN-13: 978-0316273299
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,108,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tangled Web they weave, November 14, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Spiders and Their Web Sites (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent source of entertainment and information on spiders. With its stunning illustrations, dazzling colors and facts about exotic spiders and the original web sites, this book is sure to capture the
attention of children and adults alike. The cover alone is enough to make you stop and stare, and the facts within will keep your attention.
The book begins with a discussion of arachnids, and speculation on the evolution of these amazing creatures. With this said, the book gives examples and facts about spiders, winding up with an example of a commonly mistaken arachnid and a few non-arachnids.
From childhood, Facklam was interested in science, and worked in numerous nature centers and zoos.
She also wanted to be an explorer but this did not work out the way she planned. She has, however, "explored" in her research and says she feels that she fulfilled her childhood dream in a way she never imagined.
She fills us in on little known facts - some spiders lasso bugs, and attract them with pheromones; Black widow venom is fifteen times more poisonous than rattlesnake venom
This 2003 Bluebonnet Nominee was well chosen. It makes for a good family read with its rapid pace and interesting research. A gem in the literary world.