Spi-ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs

by Leslie Bulion, Robert Meganck (Illustrator)

Overview

Leslie Bulion, award-winning educator favorite and master of science poetry, is back with a humorous exploration of the silk-spinning, bungee-jumping, hunting, trapping, trick-filled world of spiders!

Meet spiders that spit silk, roll like wheels, scuba dive, hide under trap doors, strum tunes, and so much more. Watch as they find mates, find prey...or find mates that become prey!

Award-winning poet Leslie Bulion and illustrator Robert Meganck team up again for this clutter (a collective noun for spiders) of short poems and humorously accurate illustrations celebrating the amazing attributes of Araneae.

The book is also packed with helpful sidebars, call-outs, and back matter, including a glossary of science terms, a description of the poetic forms, a list of common and scientific names, a spider-hunting adventure how-to, resources for further study, and a relative-size chart. A feast for science and animal fans!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682631928
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.37(d)
Lexile:	1170L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Leslie Bulion has graduate degrees in oceanography and social work. She has written parenting and education articles and is the author of several children's science-related poetry books and novels. When she's not writing, she enjoys exploring nature with her binoculars, hand lens, and camera; collecting specimens to examine under her microscope; or going SCUBA diving and or kayaking. Leslie lives in Connecticut.

Designer and illustrator Robert Meganck, retired professor of illustration, graphic design, digital imaging, and color theory at Virginia Commonwealth University, received a BFA degree from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, and an MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He has received over 300 awards for illustration and graphic design work, and been recognized for excellence by such organizations as The Society of Illustrators New York and The Society of Illustrators Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Araneae All Around 6

The World of Spiders 9

Spectacular Silk 11

Spiders on the Move 12

Food Prep, Mealtime, Leftovers 14

Worldwide Webbers 16

On the Prowl 18

Spider Foolery 20

Spidey Senses 22

Don't Feed the Spider-Eaters! 24

Tricky Spider Enemies 26

Spider Comes A-Courting 32

Spider Mamas 34

Spiders in SpiderTown 36

Our Spiderful World 38

Glossary 40

A Few Notes on Poetic Form 41

Spi-ku Spider Identification 42

Spider Hunt! 44

For Further Study 45

Acknowledgments 45

Spi-ku Spiders: Relative Sizes 46

Spi-ku Cover Spiders 48

Editorial Reviews

★ "Cheerfully illustrated. . . As always, Bulion uses both evocative vocabulary and a variety of poetic forms; these are chosen with care and defined in the backmatter... Engaging and information rich, this is wonderfully well woven." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Notes on poetic form are on hand for readers who gravitate to the "A" in their STEAM curriculum, but the verses are also effective as mnemonic devices. . . teasing wordplay. . . and wry Gorey-esque bait for the spider grossout fans. . . Meganck's digital artwork balances light-hearted cartooning with reliably detailed anatomical drawing." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Abundant scientific information, poetry, and colorful cartoon illustrations. . . scientific concepts are clearly conveyed, incorporating lively, sometimes icky touches. . . the enthusiastic tone will help readers find plenty to engage, inform, and intrigue." —Booklist

"Readers will want to devour the pages. . . The approachable and accessible verse will make adults and children want to explore the natural world and discover a clutter of spiders. . . . A fun collection of factual poetry to add to shelves." —School Library Journal

"Thirty-six poems in a variety of forms, paragraphs of information (in smaller-size type), and friendly (realistic but with hints of humor) digital illustrations together provide an effective cross-curricular introduction to spiders' appearance, behaviors, physiology, diet, and defenses. The poems' observations are sometimes lighthearted, sometimes thoughtful, and always enhance details in the accompanying text." —The Horn Book

From the Publisher

★ 2020-12-25
A celebration of spiders in poetry and prose.

The team that produced Superlative Birds (2019) and other highly regarded science poetry collections has selected 35 from the more than 48,000 species to introduce the order Araneae—spiders. An opening poem concludes, “Let’s spy spiders!” and that’s what follows. An early spread shows and tells readers what distinguishes spiders from other arachnids. The text is organized topically, covering special spider abilities (like silk spinning), sensory mechanisms, and a wide variety of behaviors including locomotion, capturing prey, eating, courting, and child care. Some spider predators and a few species that live socially are also introduced. Each spread includes the topic, a few paragraphs of exposition, and one to three cheerfully illustrated poems describing particular species or behaviors. As always, Bulion uses both evocative vocabulary and a variety of poetic forms; these are chosen with care and defined in the backmatter. The peacock spider, which raises a colorful flap in a courtship dance, is celebrated with a “Hoe-Down,” recalling a traditional song: “Spider gal, won’t you signal you’re mine, / And we’ll dance by the light of the sun!” The golden silk orbweaver gets a haiku: “sun-shimmer silk / calls six-legged web guests— / dinner!” The impressive backmatter also includes identification, with scientific names, for every spider shown; instructions for spider hunting; and relative sizes gauged against a familiar No. 2 pencil.

Engaging and information rich, this is wonderfully well woven. (glossary, resources, acknowledgments) (Informational poetry. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews

04/01/2021

Gr 2–6—This collection is filled with all forms of poetry, including haiku, limerick, concrete, and free verse. Spider lovers and readers who may learn to love these eight-legged creatures will rejoice in the fun and informative facts featured throughout the text. Each spread is accompanied by illustrations that make spiders appear friendly and approachable. Readers will want to devour the pages as they search for hidden gems in rhyme or picture and will learn how spiders eat, how they weave patterns, and the truths behind common misconceptions. More than 50 spiders are represented in the 14 poems. The spiders range in size, from as small as a pencil eraser to the Goliath bird-eating spider who rarely eats birds at all. A full glossary, information about poetic form, and a spider identification list make this an excellent text for use in the classroom. The approachable and accessible verse will make adults and children want to explore the natural world and discover a clutter of spiders. VERDICT A fun collection of factual poetry to add to shelves.—Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford Coll., TX

School Library Journal