When Spider Met Shrew
In the tradition of fun cumulative stories like The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, this joyful story shows how helping someone in need can sometimes fulfill needs of our own.
When Spider meets Shrew, they are both down on their luck. Spider's web has blown away, and Shrew's home has just been paved over. What happens when they decide to help each other out? They meet Bat, who is lonely for friends. Then they meet Possum, who can't find his mom; Dog, who misses her puppies; and Pony, who is out of a job. Everyone has problems, but this quirky new community is ready to lend a hand in creative and surprising ways.
This is a joyful story about an unlikely group of friends finding compassion and community in each other. Deborah Kerbel's humorous, quippy dialogue is perfectly paired with Geneviève Côté's endearing illustrations of the animal characters.
Key Text Features
illustrations
speech bubbles
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
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DEBORAH KERBEL is the author of nine novels for middle grade and young adult readers, as well as many picture books, including This House Is Home, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang; Sun Dog, illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo; and Swish Slosh, illustrated by Jacqui Lee. Her books have been shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award and the Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award, among others. Deborah lives in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, two teens and a rescue schnoodle named Alfredo.
This book helps young readers understand homelessness as well as appreciate compassion for the less fortunate.
-- "Winnipeg Free Press"However this story is interpreted--as a tale of teamwork, unexpected friendship, or just plain silliness--viewers are in for a good time.
-- "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"A wholesome and heartfelt read.
-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"While grownups will read When Spider Met Shrew with a nostalgic, cozy feeling, younger readers will find a beautiful lesson that they can bring with them and use in their own little communities.
-- "Cloud Lake Literary"
