Nic Bishop Spiders (Sibert Honor Book) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Much different from the usual sweet spider story, this photo-rich picture book is packed with astonishing facts about these highly successful predators. The chatty text explains that spiders were around more than 350 million years ago, long before lions and tigers; and that today more than 38,000 types still exist and are doing just fine. Bishop, a biologist and an expert photographer (he provided the pictures for Joy Cowley's Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Booklist's 2000 Top of the List—Nonfiction title), once again uses beautiful full-color photos to bring exciting science to children. General facts are here: the difference between spiders and insects; body parts (most spiders have eight eyes, although that doesn't mean they all see particularly well); how they eat; and more. Each double-page spread includes a dramatic, brilliantly colored close-up of a spider in its natural habitat or at Bishop's home, where he raised spiders so he could easily follow their molting, courting, and egg laying. One of the first photos is of the biggest known spider, the Goliath birdeater tarantula from South America, which is as big as a page in this large-size book. Whether it's the hairs on a spider's legs that sense touch or the gruesome stuff about how spiders turn their preys' insides into soup, the details are riveting. Rochman, Hazel

Product Description

For the first to third grade set, spiders are fascinating and suitably gruesome, especially when looked at in EXTREME close-up. Amazing images show the beauty and otherworldliness of spiders. Simple, engaging text conveys basic information about spiders as well as cool and quirky facts. One stop-action montage shows a spider leaping twenty times its body length!

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Nonfiction (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439877563
• ISBN-13: 978-0439877565
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,643 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars truly wonderful, July 23, 2008

By	M. Vafi (Missouri) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Beautiful photography, very informative, descriptive detail just right to keep kids interested without overloading them. I would highly recommend.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book!, June 20, 2008

By	A. L. Berey (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My son is 5 and very curious about insects (and most things in general)... the descriptions are interesting and photos fantastic. While there's a lot of depth there, you can skip some of it, and cover what you choose. I definitely recommend it for any child that's intellectually curious and not squeamish about bugs!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Natural history facts to captivate even reluctant readers., January 8, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Nic Bishop's SPIDERS examines all kinds of spiders through the lens of Nic Bishop's close-up color photography. Full-page spider images are accompanied by natural history facts to captivate even reluctant readers.