About Arachnids: A Guide for Children (About)

Rating:
Summary: Wise and wonderful
Review: Young children will learn and retain more about arachnids from these spare pages, than from any other introductory picture book on the subject that I' ve seen. Using the same simple language and up-close "in the wild" illustrations of earlier books in the "About" series on birds, mammals, reptiles and so on, "About Arachnids" answer all the basic questions inquisitive pre-schoolers might pose when first engaged by the subject of arachnids, i.e., spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks. Its simplicity is beautiful. Rather than give a lecture on the scientific classification or various species, the first page boils it down to just four words -- "Arachnids have eight legs..." accompanied by a beautifully rendered close-up illustration of two Brown Daddy Longlegs. The thought continues on the next spread, depicting a color-camoflaged Desert Tarantula: "...and two main body parts." Other fascinating species are selected for inclusion, from the crablike Spiny Orb Weaver to the daring Jumping Spider. Children will naturally want to know more about these mini-beasts, so the creators have included a four-page afterword that pairs a paragraph of data with a repeated black-and-white sketch of the arachnid. Best, the author avoids unnecessary drama - and, in fact, judgement of any kind - when it comes to such much-maligned crawlers as the black widow, tarantula and deer tick. Rather, the conclusion calmly, rationally states "Some arachnids may cause harm [Brown recluse]...but most are helpful and should be protected." Wise and wonderful.