The Spider - (Disgusting Critters) by Elise Gravel

About the Book

A whimsically-illustrated introduction to the spider.

Book Synopsis

Part of a series of hilarious nonfiction about disgusting creatures, this book looks at the spider. It covers such topics as the spider's habitats (pretty much everywhere but outer space), the silk it spins (it can trap prey and makes a nifty bowtie), and its parenting practice (female spiders carry around their eggs in a silk purse). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Spider contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

Review Quotes

".... adorable little cartoon characters .... accompanied by factoids to give a new dimension to these creepy crawlies .... Gravel hit the sweet spot between science, grossness and silly humour that appealed to teachers, parents and young children alike...cute, charming tour guides in these baby biology courses."
-- National Post

"The cartoon illustrations and use of speech bubbles make for a winning mixture of entertainment and information. Bold colors and fonts draw attention to important words, which beginning readers will find useful. Humor abounds in both titles .... Ample spacing throughout makes for an effective layout. The comic charm will appeal to a wide berth of new and reluctant readers." - School Library Journal

"As part of a series about disgusting creatures, this book examines the spider. It covers such topics as the spider's habitats (everywhere but outer space), the silk it spins (it can trap prey and makes a nifty bowtie) and its parenting practices (female spiders carry their eggs in a silk purse). This humorous text will catch young readers in its web!"
--Canadian Children's Book Centre

About the Author

Elise Gravel is an award-winning author/illustrator from Quebec. She has won a Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration in French, and is well-known for her original, wacky picture books and graphic novels. After completing her studies in graphic design, Elise found herself quickly swept up into the glamorous world of illustration. Her old design habits drive her to work a little text here and there into her drawings and she loves to handle the design of her assignments from start to finish. She is inspired by social causes and likes projects that can handle a good dose of eccentricity.