This updated book's numerous stunning photos, often arachnid close-ups, are beautifully reproduced. Simon takes full advantage of the images, with excellent interactivity between writing and pictures maximizing the informational format. The text is written in Simon's signature approach--straightforward, with conceptually rich explanations pitched to a child's level of understanding (though never simplistic).

The creepy-crawly close-up photo of a hairy spider on the cover will have kids (and adults) saying "Yuck!" while they grab the book to look for more inside. As with other Simon photographic nonfiction, this presents information on spiders in easy, understandable prose. The facts are made relative—for example, "jumping spiders can leap a distance of 40 times the length of its own body, the same as if you jumped the length of two basketball courts and made a slam dunk." Examples interestingly describe the facts, e.g., "some spider silk is three times stronger than steel wire of the same thickness." This is casual nonfiction, no chapters, categories, or index, but the amazing close-up color photos make the almost conversational text captivating. A subject that both fascinates and repels at the same time, this mini-documentary will have kids spinning their own stories about the spiders they've now discovered. (Nonfiction. 6-10)

Gr 4-6-Stunning visuals of a variety of spiders highlight this introduction. A full-page, sharp, color close-up photograph of a representative spider alternates with a page of text throughout most of the book; several are extreme close-ups, so detailed that individual hairs on the spiders' legs and bodies are visible. The smoothly written text briefly describes major physical and behavioral characteristics common to all spiders; some distinctive characteristics of about a dozen particular kinds (e.g., tarantulas, fishing spiders, funnel-weaving spiders, etc.); senses of sight and touch; web construction; hunting techniques; uses of spider silk; and life cycles. The well-organized text is succinctly written, with scientific terms defined as they appear. The lack of captions is disappointing, for not all of the creatures can be easily identified from the text. Still, Simon's book compares well with such standards as Claudia Schnieper's Amazing Spiders (Carolrhoda, 1989; o.p.) and Sandra Markle's Outside and Inside Spiders (Atheneum, 1994). Although those titles offer more detail on physiology and anatomy (both describe how spiders feed as well as how they mate), Simon does an excellent job of covering the basics. The readable text and outstanding photography will appeal both to report writers and browsers.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.