Rating: 
Summary: More fun than making mudpies...
Review: A marvelously imaginative collection for kids of all ages, Barking Spiders explores the wide-eyed innocence of childhood one page at a time. Infused with a subtle, refreshing humor, CJ's poems read like "mini memories" of a time when new sneakers made you run faster, looth teeth made you talk funny, and bellybuttons were a mystery. There's something here for everyone to make you laugh and warm your heart. And so much fun to read you'll wish there were more....
Rating:
Summary: Barking Spiders
Review: Barking Spiders is a delightful collection of poems for children. When I first started reading C.J. Heck's poetry, it was obvious that she had a unique talent to get into the mind of a child and see life from their perspective. This collection deals with subjects ranging from "Barking Spiders" to "Toe Jam" with some angels flying around in between. I love the smiles, giggles, oouu's and ahs reading these poems to my grandchildren brings. (And from their mom's and dad's too.) They are truly for the child in all of us. Bravo C.J.! Jim Hartsell
Rating: 
Summary: Good. Not Great
Review: Based on the positive reviews, we went to great lengths to locate this out-of-print book. But we think it is just so-so. My daughter does not read it much. It is good, but there are better books of this style.We like the poems from "What Your First Grader Needs to Know."
Rating:
Summary: Poetry for "Children" of All Ages
Review: C. J. Heck's Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff is a very special collection of poems told from a child's point of view. Where else can you explore such silly topics as belly buttons, toe jam and stinky feet, whistling, toothpaste or bandaids...and in the same book, heaven, a "special" brother, best friends and being an only child? Ms Heck is able to capture the essence of the innocent, inquisitive child in each of us. These delightful poems are filled with honesty, wisdom and humor, as youngsters take a peek at the world around them and try to make sense of it. This is a wonderful read aloud book, the entire family can enjoy together and a great addition to all home libraries.
Rating:
Summary: Poetry for "Children" of All Ages
Review: C. J. Heck's Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff is a very special collection of poems told from a child's point of view. Where else can you explore such silly topics as belly buttons, toe jam and stinky feet, whistling, toothpaste or bandaids...and in the same book, heaven, a "special" brother, best friends and being an only child? Ms Heck is able to capture the essence of the innocent, inquisitive child in each of us. These delightful poems are filled with honesty, wisdom and humor, as youngsters take a peek at the world around them and try to make sense of it. This is a wonderful read aloud book, the entire family can enjoy together and a great addition to all home libraries.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, honest, totally entertaining & thoughtful poetry.
Review: CJ Heck's Barking Spiders And Other Such Stuff is a wonderfully entertaining collection of poems told from a child's perspective. Often funny, sometimes introspective, always honest, and illustrated with Michelle Lenkner's line drawings, these poems by CJ Heck form a wonderful introduction for young readers to the magic of poetry and rhyme. Hugs: Hugs come in different sizes,/Hugs feel different, too./There are sad hugs when you're crying,/That's when nothing else will do.//There are happy hugs for laughing./there are hugs for scary, too./But the hugs that I like best of all.../Are hugs for I Love You!
Rating:
Summary: Open letter to CJ Heck
Review: I recently sent this in form of a letter directly to CJ, and would like to share it here. Dear CJ, I recently acquired your book "Barking Spiders" from a nearby bookstore. Just wanted to send you a brief thanks for writing such a delightful work. The children enjoyed it and we loved reading it to them. My 7 year old read some more tonight immediately after school. It's often difficult to find quality children's writing that doesn't bore the poor parent stuck with trying to get their kids interested in reading. Not since Shel Silvertein's "Light in the Attic" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" have I enjoyed a children's book so much. You certainly hold well with Silverstein and Mercer Myer's as among the best of children's writers with the ability of holding the kid's .... and parents attention, and holding up on repeated readings. sincerely
Tom Perry
Grassroots Poetry
Rating:
Summary: Great read for students of any age!
Review: This book is fantastic! I read and shared this book with my 3rd grade class and they have constantly commented since! Our faves were "Barking Spiders" (wait until you figure these out!) and "Gramma's Apron" (will bring a tear to anyone's eyes). Ms. Heck has a wonderful eye into the world of children, yet has the balance of writing which allows even the oldest "child" to enjoy her work. Even my students compared her to the greats of children's poetry, such as Shel Silverstein ("Where the Sidewalk Ends") and Jack Prelutsky ("The New Kid on the Block"). A strong recommendation for anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Gentle Poems from Childrens' Perspectives
Review: This collection of 59 brief poems by C.J. Heck and accompanying line drawings by Michelle Lenkner are destined to become standard reading for the 10 year old set. They magically capture the "lost youth" of these young people while also moving the gaze into the potential joy of the current moment. Each poem seems designed to come from a different specific childhood perspective that will fit your child perfectly in a number of cases. Beyond that, the pages will reopen your own mind and heart to your childhood memories and perspectives. In fact, the book is designed to give the feel of being an anthology of children's verse. The poems can connect with your child both through their subject matter and by their simplicity. You have poems about barking spiders, belly buttons, lost teeth, Bandaids, hugs, the Boogie man, shadows, smelly feet, toe jam, new babies in the family, and prayer. These are almost universal subjects. Often the poems come from an obviously female or male perspective, and I liked that. Your child can pick the rhymes that fit his or her personality and experiences best. Most children will probably relate well to somewhere between 20 and 40 of these poems, so there's plenty here to keep the 4th through 6th grader happily occupied. Personally, I found some of the poems to be remarkably appealing and interesting. Among these are Ode to Being Five, To the Boogie Man:, Hugs, Jelly Beans, Bandaids, Baby's First Christmas, Colors, The Quarter, My Tooth, Our New Baby, "Special" Brother, Dear Santa, Mommie's Hands, Angel, and Bed Pages. I would like to single out one poem, Night Night, for special praise. It is similar to the ending of Goodnight Moon, but has an even simpler way to descend into a cozy slumber. Although this book is designed to be read at the 9-12 age level, the poems themselves will be enjoyed by much younger children when read aloud by you. As such, you can begin reading some of these to children as young as 1 or 2. Some are also simple enough that they could be easily learned by a beginning reader. So you will get plenty of benefit over the years from your investment in the book. After you child shows signs of "outgrowing" this book, I suggest that you explain the reasons why you enjoy it. ... adopting an ageless perspective that combines the best of youth and maturity is a valuable goal. Keeping the best of childhood present is the way to begin that process. Encourage them to keep with them that which is always valuable about childhood's outlook, especially the optimism and simple sense of wonder. Make sure your child's life is always more than "a hole that just goes nowhere."
Rating:
Summary: Gentle Poems from Childrens' Perspectives
Review: This collection of 59 brief poems by C.J. Heck and accompanying line drawings by Michelle Lenkner are destined to become standard reading for the 10 year old set. They magically capture the "lost youth" of these young people while also moving the gaze into the potential joy of the current moment. Each poem seems designed to come from a different specific childhood perspective that will fit your child perfectly in a number of cases. Beyond that, the pages will reopen your own mind and heart to your childhood memories and perspectives. In fact, the book is designed to give the feel of being an anthology of children's verse. The poems can connect with your child both through their subject matter and by their simplicity. You have poems about barking spiders, belly buttons, lost teeth, Bandaids, hugs, the Boogie man, shadows, smelly feet, toe jam, new babies in the family, and prayer. These are almost universal subjects. Often the poems come from an obviously female or male perspective, and I liked that. Your child can pick the rhymes that fit his or her personality and experiences best. Most children will probably relate well to somewhere between 20 and 40 of these poems, so there's plenty here to keep the 4th through 6th grader happily occupied. Personally, I found some of the poems to be remarkably appealing and interesting. Among these are Ode to Being Five, To the Boogie Man:, Hugs, Jelly Beans, Bandaids, Baby's First Christmas, Colors, The Quarter, My Tooth, Our New Baby, "Special" Brother, Dear Santa, Mommie's Hands, Angel, and Bed Pages. I would like to single out one poem, Night Night, for special praise. It is similar to the ending of Goodnight Moon, but has an even simpler way to descend into a cozy slumber. Although this book is designed to be read at the 9-12 age level, the poems themselves will be enjoyed by much younger children when read aloud by you. As such, you can begin reading some of these to children as young as 1 or 2. Some are also simple enough that they could be easily learned by a beginning reader. So you will get plenty of benefit over the years from your investment in the book. After you child shows signs of "outgrowing" this book, I suggest that you explain the reasons why you enjoy it. ... adopting an ageless perspective that combines the best of youth and maturity is a valuable goal. Keeping the best of childhood present is the way to begin that process. Encourage them to keep with them that which is always valuable about childhood's outlook, especially the optimism and simple sense of wonder. Make sure your child's life is always more than "a hole that just goes nowhere."
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