From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Gail Gibbons is well-known for her succinct, colorful treatment of numerous nonfiction topics. Spiders (Holiday House, 1993) is narrated by Suzanne Toren, whose mature, expressive voice carefully explains the page-turn signal (on one side) and that first the words at the bottom of the page will be read and then the words on the upper "picture" section of the page. Often the words on the pictures are labels, followed by the phonetic pronunciations, which are read more slowly and emphatically. Young readers will find the reading of the labels helpful, though nonreaders may be confused about just which item is which. Listeners are advised that most spiders don't hurt people, but youngsters may not have enough description of the black widow, which "can kill people," to prevent them from being frightened by any small black spider. Though not Gibbons' best work, her bright illustrations and simple text, pleasantly presented in read-along form, should be welcomed by budding entomologists.Fritz Mitnick, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw, PA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
An excellent science book by a frequent author. Within the triple borders of black and vividly colored lines framing each page, Gibbons uses deep green and blue backgrounds to set off transparent webs and drab spiders to fine advantage. In a succinct, informative text, she describes some of the 30,000 species of spiders, meanwhile illustrating assorted webs: sheet, tangled, funnel, triangle, and orb. Especially useful are carefully labeled side-by-side drawings of a spider's body and an insect's. A final page offers more odd facts--''Little Miss Muffet'' was probably recoiling from a meal of mashed spiders, ``a common cold remedy, about 200 years ago.'' Visually appealing, solid information. (Nonfiction. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Card catalog description
Examines the physical characteristics, behavior, habitats, and different kinds of spiders

ANNOTATION

Examines the physical characteristics, behavior, habitats, and different kinds of spiders

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin

Gail Gibbons assures youngsters at the very start that most spiders won't hurt people. She explains how the web-spinners came to be called arachnids and, with side- by-side portraits for easy comparison, how they differ from insects. She describes how spiders grow, their size, and, with a focus on selected species, the unique ways in which they catch their prey. The author/artist's final page of intriguing spider specifics wraps up a first-rate introduction.

School Library Journal