Be Nice to Spiders

by Margaret Bloy Graham

When Billy left his pet spider, Helen, at the Zoo, the animals suddenly became happy and contented. The lions snoozed all day long, the elephants enjoyed their baths, and the zebras ate their hay in peace -- all because Helen was spinning webs and catching flies.

But one day Helen's webs were swept away. The Keeper had the cages cleaned for the Mayor's inspection tour. Soon the flies were back again and the animals were miserable once more. But not for long...

Children will be fascinated and amused by the way Helen solved the problem and won a permanent place of honor for herself in the Zoo.

Margaret Bloy Graham's pictures match the wit and charm of her delightful story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Nature, Kids, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1967

About the author

Children's book illustrator.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really lovely story about the importance of spiders and what a good job they do. The story has a wonderful message of appreciation of all animals and of leaving nature to do it's job and leaving it where it is.

Sadly it is set in a zoo which does confuse the message somewhat. This is a vintage book so I expect this wasn't considered to be as cruel as it is now.

It is a very lovely story though, one I know I would have loved as a child and one I know my children would have loved too if they were younger. Beautiful illustrations.

Read on open library.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely essential book to my spiritual growth, Margaret Bloy Graham's "Be Nice to Spiders" was the book that taught me the very fragile ecological balance of life and death in the animal kingdom. This book (along with "Charlotte's Web") also taught me to love spiders.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, gosh! A rediscovered childhood favorite!!! This is actually from way before my time, even, (first published in the late '60s) and while it certainly is a tad dated now (such as all the workers at the zoo being men), I still think it could win over kids today.

Helen the spider arrives at the front gates of the zoo with a note from the little boy who owns her asking them to please take care of her because can't take her with him to his new "no pets allowed" apartment. When the box is opened, she escapes and is soon building her web in the animals' cages. (I was so fascinated by her web-building process as a kid!) The poor lions are first--they are plagued by flies but Helen eagerly catches flies for her meals and soon the lions are fly-free and happy. But then an important guest is scheduled to visit the zoo and the manager wants the zoo cleaned top to bottom--including getting rid of all those nasty spider webs. What will happen to Helen!? And the animals!?

Of course, there is a happy ending ;-) And while I am no fan of small zoos and frown about the animals being in their tiny cages, I do think that the overall message of the book (and considering the time in which it was written, too) is an important one, showing how nature works in harmony and that we shouldn't discount the contribution of one type of creature, even if it's tiny and "unpopular." BE NICE TO SPIDERS! ;-)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Publisher,
Please keep this book in your active files... no need to redo it in any way (except keep it available) since the art is as delightful as the story (as I weary of "updated" art especially when the original is terrific).
Thanks,
A Librarian who reads this to children who still enjoy it immensely.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that this wonderful treasure (available on openlibrary), and all the other books with a similar theme, haven't made nearly enough of an impression on most people. My husband's daughter, age 40 something, still thinks of spiders as monsters. I wish he'd read this to his kids when they were young.
---
Reread. The OKC library bought a copy! Yay, because we need to learn to treasure spiders. The zoo setting is a bit of a problem, but it gives you a chance to have the discussion about caging animals, too.

(Remember that often modern wildlife parks are the home to efforts to increase the numbers of critically endangered animals so that they can be introduced into the wild. And also that they're often the only chance for people to actually see wildlife and learn about it firsthand.)

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 5 out of 5]

3* art
5* story

In my Parenting by the Book theory, this book is right up there. Squirt screams when he sees a spider. This annoys me. I want him to appreciate bugs....
Tadah!
Here's Helen!
I'll let you know if it works. He liked the story. Whether he will like spiders is still up in the air.

[Bill Sannwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son made me so proud this past week. He asked if he could stay longer at preschool because he had just discovered an interesting spider and wanted to look at it with the other kids. I watched him play from the car and was amazed at the compassion he showed for such a small life. While the other kids were trying their best to kill or torture the spider, he protected it. He told the other kids to leave the spider alone and boxed them out when they tried to get in close to do some damage. We later let the spider go in a safe location before we left, but only after I spent a couple minutes convincing him the spider would be happier living outside than in one of my son's bug carriers.

So! Cut forward to the next day and I checked out Be Nice to Spiders from the library. My son wanted to read it immediately when he set his eyes on it. The book is a nice tale about the important work spiders do--namely catching annoying flies. The message is helped along by the cute artwork and slightly pattern-based plot. A splendid book to share with a little boy who loves creepy crawlies and can put value in their tiny existences.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We attended a summer library program that included facts and stories about spiders. It was a fun program and afterward, our girls flocked toward a table filled with books on spiders, taking home several. I don't remember reading this book before, but it's likely that it was at my local library when I was a child, too. I love sharing books like this, ones that have really stood the test of time. The illustrations are fun, and reminded me strongly of the Harry books by Gene Zion (which makes sense, as Margaret Bloy Graham illustrated them all.)

[Lorellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming story about the worth of a good spider. I try not to disturb them outside of my home, especially on my porch or in my carport. This is a fun way to discuss that with Tot. The illustrations are lovely. I'm happy to have discovered this vintage, hardcover copy in The Little Free Library.

[Igor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Em tese, é muito bacana falar de sustentabilidade, equilíbrio ecológico na floresta. O problema é quando é dentro das nossas casas e edificações. Aí a regra é outra.
Moro em casa e há aranhas por toda parte. Não são pequenas e muitas podem ser venenosas. E muito. Já sei caso de cachorros morrendo por causa de picada. Então não é brincadeira. Se a pessoa tem alergias então, o risco dispara.

Picadas de aranhas podem causar danos que precisam até cirurgias corretivas. Muita dor e até risco de vida para crianças e pessoas alérgicas. Então, não é tão 'romântico' assim.

[Arminzerella · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Billy has to move to an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, he leaves his pet spider Helen at the zoo with a note that reads, “Please look after Helen. I’ve had her since she was a baby, but I can’t keep her anymore…” The keeper opens the box, Helen jumps out, and quickly makes herself at home around the zoo – spinning webs in the animals’ enclosures and eating all of the bothersome insects that irritate them. The zoo animals are much happier with Helen in residence. When the Mayor comes for an inspection, however, the keepers are told to clean away all of Helen’s webs. Helen goes into hiding with the camels (who remain happy and bug-free), but the other animals’ health and happiness quickly deteriorates without the efforts of their busy spider friend. When the keepers realize what’s going on, they welcome Helen – and her many, MANY children back into the zoo.

This is a charming story that shows how spiders can be helpful (and not creepy and terrifying). Helen smiles out from the center of her web – plump and happy, surrounded by the flies she’s caught and, later, her offspring. Very cute. This will have kids clamoring to adopt their own pet spiders instead of smashing them.

[Robert Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me, as the title proclaims, to always Be Nice to Spiders. I learned this as a child, and I am still practicing this wisdom. A splendid book for children and adults alike. One of my all time favorites. I am happy it is still in publication for new generations of young readers and their parents.

[Chelsea McMillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen the spider quickly earned her keep at the zoo. She was happy until the zoo workers were told to get rid of all the spiderwebs. This fiction story allows readers to understand that spiders, while creepy to some, are good to have around.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book because it showed how useful spiders are in world, didn't make them scary and what would happen if there were no spiders. A great book

[RH Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

A low-drama childhood favorite with an pleasing message, recently rediscovered at a local thrift store.

[Cordellya Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting way to illustrate the idea that every creature- no matter how small- is important in the grand scheme of things.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my most-read books when I was a child and probably why I try never to kill a spider. When I was a small child, I was allowed to play with any spider I found in the house. I didn't do much beyond picking them up and putting them back down again. Unknown to my parents, one species I think I played with was the brown recluse spider, which look practically identical to harmless house spiders. I was never bitten, but it's best to leave spiders alone and just admire them from afar.

The blurb here on Gooodreads gives too much of the story away. This is a shame. I loved not knowing what would happen next until I turned the page.

The illustrations are classic. Just the right balance of simplicity with detail.

Highly recommended book, no matter what your age. I'm sorry I gave my childhood copy away.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another charmer from Aunt Vicki. Published in 1967, it is slightly dated but this almost adds to it's charm.



The story is simple with the moral that everything is useful and has a place in the world.

The ending annoyed me a little bit and I will quote the last page.

"And Billy was right. A few days later, out of the egg sac came lots of little spiders.

From then on, Helen and her children and all the animals in the Zoo lived happily ever after"

Anyone who has read Charlotte's Web will know that once Helen has that little egg sac she is not long for this world! Ok, I know, my daughter is only two but I don't believe in always teaching her happily ever after, what is wrong with a bit of realism.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will always remind me of my mom. She loves this book when I was a little girl we would always read it. I grew up with a mom that wasn't afraid of any bugs and would save them all by gently catching them and taking them outside. I'm glad other children have this book so they can understand the beauty of spiders, and maybe grow a little more appreciation for them. A wonderful book. Great message and great illustrations to highlight the book. Pick it up. Buy it. Enjoy it with your little one.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite from my childhood that I usually bring out for my older story time. It went over fairly well, one girl was entranced (a young me?) and most of the rest where intrigued with the animals and finding the spider, though it was too much for one child. 6/6/12

My story time might be getting a little too big to use this, since Helen doesn't show up very well from across a room. 5/22/13

Did not work well this year. Had a smaller group when I started, then 2 groups came in late and 2 toddlers left from lap time decided to have a screaming contest.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billy has to give up his pet spider because he's moving to a new apartment. So, he leaves her at the zoo, where she promptly makes the lives of all the zoo animals better by eating all the pesky flies. But when the mayor comes to the zoo, all the keepers get rid of the spider webs and the flies return. With the logical reasoning of your average five year old, the main Zookeeper and some noob named Joe figure out that they need spiders to get rid of all the flies.

Illustrations are charmingly ol' fashion (book was published in 1967).

[Jo Miller]

Shows kids that you can't judge a person and what they can do based on the way they look. A spider is dropped off at a zoo by a little boy. This spider makes a home at the zoo and helps keep the flies away from the animals. When the Mayor comes to inspect the zoo they clean up all the spider webs and the animals are all happy because there are no flies bothering them. The spider got scared and stayed in the camel house. The zookeepers realized that the camels are the only animals that are happy because all the other animals have flies bothering them. So, spiders are helpful!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I. don't. like. spiders. But this, ... this was really quite cute and I just can't say otherwise. Charlotte and Helen are now my favorite spiders. They can live. The rest ... well. I haven't converted that much!

Ages: 4 - 8

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!

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[Arlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork is in a style from a bygone era and the story is timeless. I know a few adults who'd benefit from reading this book. To me, it's a classic. The spider's name (no spoilers here) is even a great choice for helping to demystify that character in the story. I recommend it to all animal lovers, people concerned for the environment, parents with small children, and those afraid of insects. I think I'll recommend it to my daughter (26 years old), too! :-)

[Kyle Greenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be Nice to Spiders is a very cute book to read to elementary students. Spiders seem like they would not be a very good pet, but this book explains that because the pet spider Helen was left at the zoo, all of the other animals benefited from it! Students could discuss the positive outcomes and surprising turn with the great spider at the zoo who made the other animals a lot happier!

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be Nice to Spiders is a nice little book with a nice little message that's right in the title. I have quite an affinity for spiders these days, so it's nice to have this book around. Some children kill spiders on sight, and while I understand needing to be able to identify potentially dangerous spiders, letting the innocent little orb-weavers and grass spiders be is important.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Helen is dropped off at the Zoo she learns to make the best of her new home. But when the Mayor comes her new home changes until the Zoo keeper realizes just how important Helen is! This is a great story with some great learning hidden in the pages.

[Jennifer Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a favorite of mine as a child. Gavin loves this book. It is hard not to fall in love with a spider named Helen who eats the flies that torment the animals. This book will always have a special place in my heart.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I serendipitously came across this in the results of a book search for another book. I read it as a child, but had totally forgotten about it until now. About how even the seemingly insignificant can turn out to be quite important after all.

[Elizabeth Schrank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a childhood favorite of mine. It is about a boys pet spider who spins webs and keeps the flies away from the animals so they can live in peace. This is an older book, but I think that the illustrations are great in supporting the text.