I'm Trying to Love Spiders - by Bethany Barton (Paperback)

About the Book

"This fresh and very funny non-fiction picture book shares lots of fascinating facts about spiders in an entirely captivating way. If I'm Trying to Love Spiders doesn't cure your spider phobia, it'll at least make you appreciate how amazing they are...and laugh a lot as you learn about them."--

Book Synopsis

The Official Spider Test.

What do you do when you see a spider?

a. Lay on a BIG spidey smoocheroo.

b. Smile, but back away slowly.

c. Grab the closest object, wind up, and let it fly.

d. Run away screaming.

If you chose b, c, or d, then this book is for you! (If you chose a, you might be crazy.)

I'm Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from their awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you're sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. Comforting, right? No? Either way, there's heaps more information in here to help you forget your fears . . . or at least laugh a lot!

Review Quotes

A 2016 CHILDREN'S CHOICE BOOK AWARD WINNER!

PRAISE FOR I'M TRYING TO LOVE SPIDERS

* "The skillful juggling of scientific fact and emotional truth make this a winner." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Barton's wacky ink and digital artwork is simultaneously cringe-worthy and cackle-inducing.... Both arachnophobes and arachnophiles will find useful debate fodder squashed within these pages." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The presentation is original and engaging, with a zippy text and hilarious visuals. The cartoon illustrations are appealingly childlike, with the font a hand-written scrawl, and the spiders depicted are downright cuddly." --School Library Journal

"Watercolor-like splotches form the background for the spiders, who actually look hapless and cute. Fact-filled and funny arachnology." --Booklist

PRAISE FOR BETHANY BARTON:

"Toothy and unkempt, with wild eyes and a temper tantrum of a roar--'I wanna go camping NOW!'--Stewart fully embodies a preschooler who has not yet mastered the art of waiting. Barton's sprawling, hand-lettered text and its buoyant placement match the urgency of Stewart's desperation." --Kirkus review of This Monster Cannot Wait!

"The sprawling text printed in capital letters emphasizes Stewart's impatience, and the quirky ink and Photoshop illustrations add many humorous moments to the story." --School Library Journal review of This Monster Cannot Wait!

About the Author

Bethany bARTon was drawing monsters for her other picture books (This Monster Needs A Haircut, This Monster Cannot Wait) when a spider crawled across the page and demanded her attention. Since she couldn't smash Mr. Spider into her artwork, she decided to try and love him. It wasn't easy (RIP Mr. Spider) but in the process, this book was born.

When she isn't writing or illustrating books about awesome and icky things, Bethany spends her days decorating sets and painting miniatures for film/TV. Bethany lives in Los Angeles with her rad husband, their adorable son, and an outrageous number of garden spiders she won't let anybody smash. (Well... unless they're really big.)