Book Week Early Childhood Shortlist: Spiro by Anna McGregor

This delightful picture book explores themes of tenacity, ingenuity and adaptation as Spiro builds and rebuilds his web in the hungry pursuit of food. (Reading Time)

I was pleased to see a fun book about a spider on the shortlist. It reminded me of the Book Week year where we had rotating tabloid book activities. Each teacher took a favourite Australian picture book, planned a simple short activity to go with it, read it to groups of ten or twelve children. The principal chose Aranea  by Jenny Wagner. After the reading the students used coloured twine to make the stair handrails into webs. It looked amazing. The children had so much fun! 

Spiro’s formula for spidery success:

11% hunger to succeed (or actual hunger)

34% trying again and again … and again!

53% giving it another shot

And 2% spider silk.

A hilarious tale of one spider’s determined search for a decent meal.

What is a decent meal for a spider? How do spiders catch their food? Some students may be curious to find out, so find some nonfiction books that might help them discover the answer.

This book is humorous and not designed to frighten children or put them off spiders, so find some other 'fun' spider books. Other books with a light tone are:

What can we learn from spiders? More ideas for your display?

Drawing or painting Spiro?

These books are expensive here, but you can access them on Youtube.

• I Worked Hard on That! by Robyn Wall

• Jumper  by Jessica Lanan