Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2-5. Even fainthearted arachnophobes will appreciate this gallery of spider profiles featuring full-color, telephoto views of species ranging from the surprisingly unthreatening ogre-faced spider to a furry-legged tarantula. Fact bars citing scientific classification, habitat, food, and body size appear beneath photos of specific species as large-print text elaborates on particular feeding and web-spinning behavior. A biologist and photojournalist for National Geographic, Murawski writes about her subjects with an awe and a reverence that will encourage reluctant children to move beyond spiders' creepy reputation to their fascinating features. But children looking for high drama won't be disappointed: Then the spider delivers a deadly bite and sucks its prey dry. An extensive author's note describes Murawski's photographic techniques, which are further outlined in a step-by-step guide to powdering a web for easy viewing. A glossary and suggestions for further reading close this attractive addition to the biology shelves. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-Outstanding color photographs capture the natural beauty of spider webs in this unique volume. A preface discusses a few major characteristics shared by all spiders and some special characteristics of web builders, followed by profiles of nine different species. Each one is introduced on a page of large-print text and illustrated with a sharp photo and a fact panel listing the scientific name, average size, habitat, prey, etc. The main text briefly describes some key physical and behavioral characteristics of the featured species, how its web functions, and the consistency of the spider silk threads used. The concluding sections describe five additional uses of spider silk, give directions for making webs visible outdoors, and relate some of the author's experiences in putting the book together. A lucid glossary of terms, some of which are not mentioned in the text, and a short list of books, magazines, and Web sites are appended. While the text is clearly written and well organized, it is the photography that stands out here. With its marvelous pictures, clear text, and fresh approach to a popular topic, this title will be a good companion volume to Sandra Markle's Outside and Inside Spiders (S & S, 1994) and Seymour Simon's Spiders (HarperCollins, 2003).-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Crisp photographs introduce nine spiders and their various web shapes and forms. How and where spiders produce the web strands are briefly introduced but not depicted in the photos. Overall, the uninspired layout detracts from the presentation. Murawski explains how to dust a web for visibility; her author's note describes some of her experiences taking the photos. Reading list, websites. Glos. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Murawski's big, sharp photos of the original world-wide webs introduce children in a memorably close-up way to the hunting strategies of ten spiders, along with briefer notes on spider silk's other natural uses. Young readers won't quickly forget what they learn from the simple, frank text, either: the ogre-faced spider "bites its prey then spits up juices that 'melt' the soft parts of the insect's body. The spider can hold its meal with its front legs and spin a new web with its hind legs--all at the same time!" The author also supplies common and scientific names, average size, and other basic facts for each example, then closes with lists of paper and online resources that are nicely tuned to the intended audience. Fascinating fare for budding naturalists. (Nonfiction. 8-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
