SELMA—THE STORY OF A STELLAR SPIDER

Selma isn’t like other spiders.

Sporting a red beret, Selma is less interested in catching flies than in spinning intricate, unique webs that capture “the Splendor of the Universe” or that resemble raindrops or stars—even if her many relatives repeatedly tell her she’s “doing it wrong.” When she decides to spin a web “as close to the sky as possible,” the first step is advancing up a nearby tall building. It’s the farthest she’s ever traveled and requires physical stamina. Just as she starts second-guessing herself, she meets an elderly spider who offers some philosophical advice, motivating Selma to keep going. Her journey takes her beyond what she could have expected and winds up providing the extraordinary spider, whose personality shines as bright as the stars, with her biggest canvas yet to showcase her brilliance. First published in Switzerland and translated from German, this delightful import celebrates artistic expression, individualism, and determination. Malina’s simple yet attention-grabbing art uses geometric shapes, flat colors, and thin, jagged white outlines. The depth of field is smartly varied throughout—close up to focus on emotional beats and wide-angled to highlight the diminutive Selma and the vast scope of her art. Equal parts silly, unexpected, and inspiring, Selma’s story is one to savor.

Stellar indeed.