Sammy Spider's First Tu B'Shevat

Sammy Spider

by Sylvia A. Rouss, Katherine Janus Kahn (Illustrator)

Celebrate Tu B’Shevat with everyone’s favorite spider! Spring is in the air and Sammy Spider watches as Josh Shapiro lowers the roots of a small tree into the ground. As spring turns to summer and summer to fall, Sammy watches Josh nurture the small tree as it sprouts tiny buds, then full blossoms, then colorful autumn leaves. Birds and squirrels come to visit the tree, and as autumn turns to winter, the leaves drop and the birds leave. Sammy worries as the tree shivers in the cold winter air. And then, as he practices weaving a new web, he gets an idea...When Tu B'Shevat arrives, Sammy spins a special birthday gift for his favorite tree. Praise for Sammy Spider’s First Tu B’ “Kudos are due Kar-Ben...for publishing a book on the subject of Tu B’Shevat since that holiday has virtually no picture book literature available for young children. Sammy...remains
a perennial favorite.” ―AJL Newsletter

Genres: Jewish, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Sammy Spider ever since I first read Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah to my children. I am now a bubbe, but I still adore Sammy. In this book, Rouss spins her own web, weaving together lessons about Tu B'Shevat and the changing seasons. Sammy watches the Shapiro's plant a sapling and then enjoys the view of the tree and the surrounding animals throughout the year. The book comes full circle when the Shapiro's celebrate Tu B'Shevat. As usual, Sammy's story is brought to life with the cute woodcut style illustrations by Katherine Janus Kahn.

[K Morlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource for children learning about Tu B'shevat!

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about the seasons and the holiday.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad little story. More focused on trees/nature in general than the holiday in particular, but it comes up near the end.

[Sylvie Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn.
I am a fan of the Sammy Spider series for introducing young children both to Jewish holidays and concepts and to other concepts as well. I like the way this book incorporates the theme of the changing seasons with the theme of Tu B'Shevat, but it always bothers me that it depicts birds building their nests and laying/hatching their eggs in the summer instead of in the spring.