Title: Diary of a Spider
Written by: Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by: Harry Bliss
Published by: Joanna Cotler Books (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
2005- Fiction perfect for preschool and elementary age kids.
Theme: Humor, Diary, Spiders, Insects
Resources: http://www.liveoakmedia.com/client/guides/9486X.pdf for ideas on discussions starters with kids and other activity guides. There’s also vocabulary words and internet activities here.
From the jacket: This is the diary…of a spider. But don’t be worried—he’s more scared of you and your gigantic shoe! Actually, he’s a lot like you. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents Day at school. But he also spins sticky webs, scales walls, and takes wind-catching lessons. Lucky for him, his best friend is a fly!
Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 New York Times best-selling Diary of a Worm, spin a hilarious tale about the upside-down web world of an eight-legged charmer and his unlikely friend, Fly.
Why I love it: From the photo album inside cover to the speech and thought bubbles on the illustrations, this book had me smiling real wide. For an example; the post card from Grampa was addressed to Spider on 5 Web Ave. Arachnidville, USA, and had a French gnat leg scotch-taped to the back as a delicious present for Spider, his grandson the narrator and main character. The text was definitely stand alone, and when the illustrator made his art stand alone beside it, Diary of a Spider was the best thing that happened to me all day. It was so special I immediately re-read it for that fun feeling of being tickled again and again.
For more books with resources please visit Perfect Picture Books at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.. You can also click on the Perfect Picture Book Badge on the right side bar and it will travel through cyber space to the resource page on Susanna’s blog. Happy reading!
Would you read this book? Why or why not?
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- https://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/picture-book-perfect-fridays-leonardo-the-terrible-monster/
Clarbojahn's Blog 
Your enthusiastic review sure makes me want to read this clever, fun tale, Clar! It’s on the TBR when I get to an anglophone library, list!
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Thank you, Joanna. It really made my day when I read it~ several times. 🙂
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Great choice, Clar! I love Diary Of A Spider. Also, Diary Of A Worm! Humorous books are such fun. Thanks for adding another fantastic book to our growing list 🙂
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You’re welcome, Susanna. Glad to know you’ve read them. I am a fan of humorous books for kids. There’s so much gloom and doom that a funny book is a treasure. 🙂
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Wow, I’m convinced after reading your wonderful review! I want to smile like that – *off to get Diary of a Spider*
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OH! I know you won’t be disappointed either, Julie. I just know you’ll end up in stitches with a real big smile, just like mine. 🙂
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I am not a fan of spiders, but I must say your review of this book captivated me! It sounds like a hilarious book. And, I loved your response to the book. I was chuckling with what you shared. Must get this one. Thanks. It’s a great choice for PPB.
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Thanks, Patricia. It is hilarious! I hope you do get a chance to read this one. I’m betting it will brighten your day. 🙂
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How fun! I just took my boys to see the play, “Diary of a Spider, Worm and Fly,” at our local children’s theater. The play was so well done and the books are really fun too. Great Choice. 🙂
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OH! How clever to do a play on these books! I would have loved to see it. I bet the kids had a blast. 🙂
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I love this book! Great review (and PPBF)! Did you know that there is a “Diary of a Fly”?
Erik 🙂
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No, I didn’t until now. I will definitely look for it. If it is half as funny, I will be rewarded. Thanks for telling me about it. 🙂
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I would definitely want to read it thanks to your great review! You really bring these books to life for us–thanks so much!
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You’re very welcome, I loved reading this book and hope you will like as much as I did.
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I had seen this title for a while, but never bothered to take a look. After reading your review I will have to go get it now. Thanks for posting.
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You’er welcome, Darshana. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂
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Yes. I love humorous books with fun illustrations.
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Me, too! I’m going to keep my eye out for more. There can’t be too many, they are so popular. 🙂
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What a great review! I need to read this. I adored Diary of a Fly.
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OH! You’ll adore this, too. Guarenteed!
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Now I normally don’t like spiders, but this sounds like a fun book. Will look out for it in my local library, hope they have it …. *fingers crossed*… Thanks Clar.
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The library should have it. IF not and you really did want to read it, you could get a hold on it and an interlibrary loan. I’ve been known to do that. Quite frequently actually.
Good luck. 🙂
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My kids get so freaked out by spiders, that I think this is a must read family book for all of them- even my 10 year old!
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Welcome to my blog, Tracy, and thanks for commenting. I went to you blog and enjoyed what I found there.
I’m sure if you read this book to them it will change their outlook on spiders and may even change it to one of humor. 🙂
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Will try to find this book in the book store here. My kids love books, love story telling
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OH good! I know you won’t be sorry. And your kids will love it. 🙂
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I have both this book and Diary of a Worm on request at the library, so I’m glad to see they’re worth reading.
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Good thing we go to different libraries because I also have Diary of a Worm on my mind. 🙂
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