The Very Busy Spider

Early one morning, a little spider begins to spin her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to divert her, each with its own sound and species-specific enticement: "Maa! Maa!" said the goat. "Want to jump on the rocks?" "Oink! Oink!" grunted the pig. "Want to roll in the mud?" Continuing patiently with her work, the industrious spider doesn't answer. She has a busy day ahead of her, but at the end she will be able to show the animals that her web is both beautiful and very useful.

As he did with his best-selling The Very Hungry Caterpillar, favorite author Eric Carle invites children to enter the world of this picture book with more than just their eyes. Young readers and listeners can feel the anticipation of the story by literally feeling the spider's creation itself: each line of the web is raised, making the excitement of its growth in size and complexity a tactile experience. Vibrant collages depicting familiar animals offer a colorful visual contrast to the web's delicate strands, while the rhythmic, repetitive text encourages vocal participation. Already well-known as a classroom classic, this creative, interactive picture book is a delight to the senses, a joy to share, and an invitation to pre-readers to "read" on their own.