The Eensy-Weensy Spider

by Mary Ann Hoberman, Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)

Overview

This charming board book retelling of the popular children's song is perfect for reading aloud together-and now is reissued with a modern cover and larger trim size.

This favorite nursery rhyme illustrated with bright, irresistible pictures will delight babies and toddlers. The board book format is perfect for little hands to hold and young children will enjoy seeing all the imaginative adventures the spider has after sliding down the waterspout—including hugging a baby bug, meeting a frog in a pond, joining a bug parade, and buying shoes—before settling down to sleep with mama in a cozy spiderweb hammock. With its playful rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, this is a perfect read-aloud for little ones and ideal for tucking into a stroller.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316537322
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Pages:	22
Sales rank:	630,637
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Mary Ann Hoberman is a children's poet and author. The former Children's Poet Laureate, she is also a National Book Award recipient. She has published over forty books for children.

Editorial Reviews

Capering caterpillars and blooming spring flowers ornament this bouncy reprise of a nursery standby. The book opens with musical stanzas for "The Eensy-Weensy Spider," along with a diagram of hand and arm gestures to be performed by the singer. A carnation-pink spider climbs a crocus-blue waterspout, while subsequent spreads describe the eight-legged heroine's garden adventures, all in keeping with the original tune: "The eensy-weensy spider met a baby bug./ `Hi!' said the spider and gave the bug a hug./ `Ugh!' said the bug. `Your hug is much too tight!'/ `I'm sorry,' said the spider. `I meant to be polite.' " Hoberman (A House Is a House for Me) invents everyday scenarios in which the spider interacts with her friendly insect neighbors (e.g., she gets assistance from a glow worm when the sun goes down). Westcott (I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly) conjures the cozy vignettes with dainty pen-and-ink outlines and fresh watercolor hues of daffodil yellow and misty green. The spider's mother sits down to a meal of curds and whey, and the eensy-weensy spider drifts off to sleep in a spun-silk hammock. These pleasing new stanzas extend a favorite song and lend personality to an indomitable creature who never lets a little rain get in her way. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Readers all know that the eensy-weensy spider went up the spout again, but then what did she do? In this expanded version of the song by the pair that collaborated on Miss Mary Mack (not reviewed) the plucky purple spider in a spunky blue hat encounters one adventure after another, as she rhymes her eensy-weensy way from morning 'til night. Whether hugging a baby bug, swimming with a frog, or buying new shoes (three pair please!), this minute arachnid heroine marches blithely along, courtesy of Hoberman's ear-catching verse. Finally "The eensy-weensy spider slept right through the night. / When she awoke the sun was shining bright. / ‘Good,' said the spider, ‘there isn't any rain!' " (Savvy readers will know what comes next.) Westcott's lush garden scenes are filled with critters large and small and provide a bug's-eye-view of the world. Riotous color and clever details add to the appeal. Begging to be read aloud, this is a sure-fire hit for story time. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews