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(4)
K-3
Heinemann Read and Learn: Animal Rivals series.
Thomas compares the title animals' defensive behaviors and attributes in an imaginary fight. Scorpions can inflict a painful sting, but tarantulas are bigger and more aggressive. Points are assigned for size, strength, speed, vemon, fighting skills, and more. A final assessment is made after tallying the scores. In a match-up against Jerry Pallotta's long-running Who Would Win? series, Thomas's less effective series comes in second. Reading list. Glos., ind.
(4)
K-3
Zoom In on Rain Forest Animals series.
This basic introduction to the spider offers cursory facts about appearance, habitat, food, and life cycle. A simple (if choppy) text for emergent readers is adequately reflected in the accompanying photos. The appended "Quick Stats" offers two random size and weight comparisons. Glos., ind.
28 pp.
| Lemniscaat
| April, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-935954-44-6$17.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Linde Faas.
In preparation for King Lion's birthday, each of several animals donates a piece of meat. When Tarantula turns his back, his piece gets poached. His search for the "beef thief" is an amiable primer in animal diets (Giraffe: "Meat? Yuck! I eat leaves and branches"). The art is painterly and vibrant; too bad about the book's punctuation and grammatical gaffes.
24 pp.
| Bearport
| August, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-61772-907-2$23.93
(4)
K-3
Snug as a Bug: Where Bugs Live series.
These books take readers inside creepy crawlies' hives, nests, holes, etc. to introduce the six featured species. There's some unspecific language, but the short bursts of one-sentence paragraphs and well-labeled, zoomed-in color photos will attract beginning readers. A "Science Lab" activity is included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Snug as a Bug: Where Bugs Live titles: Inside the Ants' Nest, Inside the Bees' Hive, Inside the Worm's Hole, Inside the Spider's Web, Inside the Tarantula's Burrow, and Inside the Cricket's Burrow.
32 pp.
| New Forest
| March, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-84898-521-6$28.50
(4)
K-3
Creepy Crawlies series.
This series presents introductions to six "creepy crawlies." Neon-bright paint-splattered backgrounds feature enlarged close-up photos of the insects and arachnids in action while scattered text and colorful sidebars contain brief facts on every eye-catching but visually overwhelming spread. The layout and format is consistent throughout the series; a life cycle diagram and fact page conclude each book. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creepy Crawlies titles: The Life Cycle of Army Ants, The Life Cycle of Cockroaches, The Life Cycle of Dung Beetles, The Life Cycle of Fleas, The Life Cycle of Honey Bees, and The Life Cycle of Tarantulas.
24 pp.
| Capstone
| August, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4765-2458-0$24.65
(4)
K-3
Pebble Plus: Creepy Crawlers series.
This series focuses on physical appearance, habitat, eating habits, and life cycle. Each book presents its limited information in easy-to-read text with hints of sensationalism ("Bam! Tarantulas use their legs to grab bugs"), while large, glossy color photographs of varying quality, some with well-placed labels, capture the drama. Vocabulary is suited to beginning readers; content is best for insect enthusiasts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creepy Crawlers titles: Cockroaches, Scorpions, and Tarantulas.
48 pp.
| Lerner
| February, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-5043-9$29.27
(4)
4-6
Arachnid World series.
Each book in this series introduces readers to the body structure, characteristics, and life cycle of a species of arachnid. Formulaic writing is generally enhanced by diagrams and stock photographs. The books are uniform in layout, design, and organization, making them more serviceable than inspired. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Arachnid World titles: Mites, Tarantulas, Wind Scorpions.
48 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| April, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3883-7$23.93
(4)
4-6
Far-Out and Unusual Pets series.
Crisp close-up photos of these unconventional pets enhance accessible, exclamation-point-heavy texts. Each book offers some information about the titular animal's behavior and habits before discussing how to care for the creature in the home; also covered is the amount of responsibility required for each of these pets. "Far Out!" text boxes provide additional tidbits of interest. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Far-Out and Unusual Pets titles: Boas and Pythons, Hairless Dogs, Miniature Horses, Poison Dart Frogs, Rats, and Tarantulas.
24 pp.
| ABDO
| September, 2010
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-61613-442-6$16.95
(4)
4-6
Checkerboard Animal Library: Spiders series.
These volumes offer straightforward, sometimes repetitive facts about different types of spiders. Two-page chapters include brief information about size, shape, color, food, offspring, etc. Vibrant photos illustrate the texts, which, though they're short on substance, could possibly be useful for student research papers. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library: Spiders titles: Bird-Eating Spiders, Black Widow Spiders, Jumping Spiders, and Tarantula Spiders.
24 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| May, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3076-3$21.26
(3)
K-3
Zoom In on Animals! series.
This informative book focuses on the life cycle, habitat, and anatomical makeup of tarantulas. Several types of tarantulas and spiderlings are shown in the vibrant close-up photographs. The simple text is descriptive and easily grasped by young readers, making it a good resource for the classroom. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
24 pp.
| Bearport
| August, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59716-704-8$21.28
(4)
K-3
No Backbone! The World of Invertebrates series.
This series allows readers to come safely eye-to-eyes with larger-than-life spiders of all shapes and sizes. The texts, which are occasionally too vague, offer basic and interesting facts about spiders' body structures, their young, how spiders eat, and where they live. Their many vivid close-up photographs are the books' main appeal. Glos., ind. Review covers these No Backbone! The World of Invertebrates titles: Hairy Tarantulas, Jumping Spiders, Spooky Wolf Spiders, Tricky Trapdoor Spiders, Deadly Black Widows, and Crafty Garden Spiders.
24 pp.
| Bearport
| January, 2007
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59716-389-7$21.28
(4)
K-3
SuperSized! series.
Simple text, stock photos, and maps introduce the habitat, diet, life cycle, physical characteristics, and behavior of the featured animal. Despite some cheesy subheads (e.g., "How Sweet!" "Clean-up Crew"), the clear comparisons ("A female Queen Alexandra's birdwing is larger than the book you are reading") and straightforward text will help readers understand more difficult concepts (e.g., camouflage, endangered species). Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these SuperSized! titles: Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula, Goliath Beetle, and Queen Alexandra's Birdwing.
93 pp.
| Holiday
| May, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-1991-3$15.95
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Stephanie Roth.
Richard's class project is to create a new cereal, and he's discouraged when he's paired up with the class bully, Kevin. Their unusual class pet, a tarantula named Ruby, inspires Richard to help a younger boy stand up to Kevin. The theme is familiar, but the text is humorous and not saccharine. Many young readers will relate to Richard's experience.
(3)
4-6
Animals Head to Head series.
Color photographs, unobtrusive cartoons, and short "rounds" describe the predatory skills of these two animals, tallying points for size, camouflage, hunting abilities, and sensory acuity to determine a "winner." The competitive setup and the author's eye for all things scary and gross keep things lively; information about endangered species status ("The Real Fight") adds perspective. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
80 pp.
| Houghton
| March, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-618-14799-3$$18.00
(2)
4-6
Photographs by
Nic Bishop.
This book follows arachnologist Sam Marshall on an expedition to South America to investigate several tarantula species. Information about spider basics, spider silk, and how to observe your own local spiders is woven into the main narrative. The color photography is so interesting that even the squeamish may take a second look at the hairy tarantulas portrayed in close detail. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2004
24 pp.
| Gareth
| September, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-8368-3769-X$$21.26
(4)
K-3
Dangerous Spiders series.
Illustrated with close-up photos, these books for newly independent readers provide some solid information. The topics discussed in the sometimes dense text include characteristics, habitats, webs, eating and mating habits, enemies, and interaction with humans. Concurrently published in Spanish. Reading list (nonfiction and fiction), videos, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dangerous Spiders titles: Black Widow Spiders, Brown Recluse Spiders, Funnel-Web Spiders, Hobo Spiders, Tarantulas, and Yellow Sac Spiders.
24 pp.
| ABDO
| January, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 1-57765-729-2$$21.35
(4)
K-3
Buddy Books: Animal Kingdom series.
In these books intended for independent readers, short sentences in a large-size typeface, close-up color photos, and a couple of diagrams provide bland but adequate introductions to two arachnids and four insects. The unadorned text describes each creature's physical characteristics, habitats, food, defenses, and young. Websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Buddy Books: Animal Kingdom titles: Bees, Black Widow Spiders, Butterflies, Ladybugs, Mosquitoes, and Tarantula Spiders.]
32 pp.
| National
| September, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-7922-5122-9$$15.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Henrik Drescher.
Some true facts about tarantulas are packaged in this amusing interview with Harry (a tarantula) by KBUG radio personality Katy Did. Drescher's illustrative way with monsters adds to the visual fun. Harry's eight eyes dance and his hairy legs wave as he good-naturedly tells all regarding his barbed hairs, venom, eating habits, and love life. The tarantula facts are accurate, and more are appended. Bib.