The Little Book of Spiders

by Simon D. Pollard, Tugce Okay (Illustrator)

A charming, richly illustrated, pocket-size exploration of the world’s spiders

Packed with surprising facts, this delightful and gorgeously designed book will beguile any nature lover. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs and original color artwork, The Little Book of Spiders is an accessible and enjoyable mini reference book about the world’s spiders, with examples drawn from across the globe. It fits an astonishing amount of information in a small package, covering a wide range of topics—from anatomy, diversity, and reproduction to habitat and conservation. It also includes curious facts and a section on spiders in myths, folklore, and modern culture around the world. The result is an irresistible guide to the amazing lives of spiders.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Animals

160 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutest book ever with adorable spiders

[Randy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently I read a terrific essay in the New Yorker by Katherine Schultz all about spiders. She includes so many fascinating fact like that spiders use different kinds of venom depending on the circumstances or can vary the consistency of the silk they use for their webs. When I saw this book at Moe’s I snapped it up.

This book is a terrific short read covering things like spiders cannibalism, their ability to hear through vibrations in their hairy legs, an ability to camouflage themselves as ants so other animals won’t eat them. Spiders fly, they run, they jump, they weave and they strategize. This book is well advertised as little but it conveys lots of compelling information. It has great illustrations and is well presented in bite-sized topics. Next up is a big book, ‘The Life of Spiders’, the book that inspired Schlutz’s great essay.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book with fun spider facts, but the mythology section was dissappointing. It only focuses on Western mythology, including pop culture like horror movies and James Bond, but no mention of any non-Western spider mythology. A glaring omission.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with lots of little bits of information about spiders, doesn’t get too deep in any single area but definitely a good start for those getting into spiders. It was however a little repetitive at times.

[Jenna P.C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, I gave it a 4/5 because some of it felt repetitive at times but I learned so much! I love these 8 legged creatures so much!

[lady cherise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite educational, aside from the occasional jump scare from turning to the next page where a spider is stretched out and ready to pounce out of the page

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purchased at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, this was a very cute and interesting book that tells you all about spiders, from their anatomy, behavior, and astonishing variety, to even cultural myths involving spiders. Also includes tons of beautiful illustrations!

[0959kedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best spider book for those who are new to the topic and also very enjoyable and informative for the readers of the topic. An amazing book with good pictures and cute illustrations, covering a lot of spider topics but as it is a little and short book it's not very detailed, only summarizes the spider topics.