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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33607003148031 | Juvenile Nonfiction | 595.4 SIY | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Debunking myths about spiders, this book takes an extremely close look at creatures that have both fascinated and terrified human beings. An introduction explains what makes spiders unique. Ten unusual species are highlighted with incredible electron micrograph photographs and surprising facts. From diving bell spiders that live in bubbles underwater, to spitting spiders that shoot venomous wads of spit at their prey, to black widows and wolf spiders, this unusual book will intrigue readers and help dispel arachnophobia.
Author Notes
Alexandra Siy has collaborated with Dennis Kunkel on several books, including Sneeze and Mosquito Bite, which was an Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book and the winner of a Texas Bluebonnet Award. She lives in New York State.
Dennis Kunkel is a scientist who conducted research at the University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, and the University of Washington, Seattle, until he established Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. in 2000. His award-winning photomicrographs are the subject of two books for adults. He lives in Hawaii.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-A brilliantly colorized microphotograph of a jumping spider crouches on the dust jacket like some alien nightmare, an electric lure to attract browsers to the many enlightening pages that follow. Many other Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photos, also colorized, are strewn about, offering vivid details of spinnerets, fangs, and eye patterns; regular color photos of spiders are included as well. The writing flows well, and Siy discusses a wide selection of arachnid topics-basic physiology, behaviors, and silk, for instance-before branching into specific varieties. Some of the species examined are the diving bell spider, the daddy longlegs spider (not to be confused with the equally long-legged harvestman), the wolf spider, and, of course, the black widow. Asides on topics such as courtship, parenting, and web-building are interspersed throughout, and the book ends with Siy delving into how she and Kunkel identified an unknown spider sample. She also explains how the dramatic SEM photos so liberally lavished throughout were taken and colorized. Back matter, which features information on eye-patterns, an identification key to eight common orders, and a segment on spider classification, is sure to delight educators. Similar in scope to Seymour Simon's handsome (nonindexed) Spiders (HarperCollins, 2004, 2007) and Nic Bishop's dramatic Spiders (Scholastic, 2007), this eye-catcher will appeal to students. VERDICT Arresting photos and illuminating text weave a neat web to capture readers.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this companion to Bug Shots (2011), Siy explains that arachnids are worthy of fascination, not fear. Kunkel's electron micrograph photographs zoom in on the subjects, giving them an almost puppetlike appearance, even as the descriptions convey their predatory natures. "Toxic venom is delivered through an opening near the end of each fang, similar to the opening in a hypodermic needle," Siy writes of the brown recluse. Vibrant coloring makes it easy to identify the spiders' anatomical features, and after learning about bionic eyes, "ballooning" spiderlings, and other topics, readers should be impressed by the arachnids' versatility and capability, even if they aren't quite ready to cuddle up with them. Ages 6-10. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.