SPIDERS AND THEIR WEBS

Murawski’s big, sharp photos of the original world-wide webs introduce children in a memorably close-up way to the hunting strategies of ten spiders, along with briefer notes on spider silk’s other natural uses. Young readers won’t quickly forget what they learn from the simple, frank text, either: the ogre-faced spider “bites its prey then spits up juices that ‘melt’ the soft parts of the insect’s body. The spider can hold its meal with its front legs and spin a new web with its hind legs—all at the same time!” The author also supplies common and scientific names, average size, and other basic facts for each example, then closes with lists of paper and online resources that are nicely tuned to the intended audience. Fascinating fare for budding naturalists. (Nonfiction. 8-10)