Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 26 pages
Publisher: Philomel; Board edition (August 16, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN: 0399229191
Product Dimensions: 5.0 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.12 ounces
List Price: US$11.99
Amazon.com
Every young child should be introduced to this story, as great a classic as its predecessor, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This colorful picture book describes a spider's day. Blown onto a farmyard fence, she starts to spin a web. The other animals ask if she wants to play, but in every case "the spider didn't answer. She was very busy spinning her web." The book is touchable: elements including the strands of web are embossed on the pages and you can follow them with your fingertips. But the best thing by far is Carle's familiar, yet still breathtaking skill as an illustrator. Especially in this large 11.5-by-8.5-inch format, his cow, goat, and dog (just to mention three favorites) capture the essence of each animal in a way few artists can hope to approach. (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Mice, a rottweiler, an arachnid and a few other assorted critters make sturdy reappearances in five board book versions of picture books. In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint, "three white mice on a white piece of paper" enjoy a colorful romp, while in Walsh's Mouse Count a similar gaggle narrowly escapes being served for dinner (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6 each, 28p, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-15-200265-0; -200266-9 Sept.). Yet another mouse searches the animal kingdom for companionship?and finds an unexpected respondent?in Eric Carle's Do You Want to Be My Friend? (HarperFestival, $6.95, 32p, ages 2-6, ISBN 0-694-00709-9 Sept.). The rewards of industriousness are celebrated in a second Carle title, The Very Busy Spider; its embossed web brings a tactile dimension to his familiar collage artwork (Philomel, $9.95, 26p, ages 2-up ISBN 0-399-22919-1 Aug.). Finally, the canine in question is Alexandra Day's beloved Carl, who takes charge of a crew of toddlers in Carl Goes to Day Care (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $5.95, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-374-31145-5 Sept.).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Terrific for toddlers, March 27, 2000
My two-year-old and I love this book. It's about a spider who blows in, lands on a fence post, and spends the entire day building a web. She keeps working as various animals tempt her to do other things. At the end of the day, she catches a fly in her web and then falls asleep, tuckered out from her busy day. This book has several things going for it. First, it is a very simple narrative, making it one of the first stories that your child will be able to understand. Second, it is repetitive. Toddlers LOVE repetition and it is good for them. It helps them stay focused on the story, and gives them a chance to "read" something themselves, because they will naturally recite the repetitive bits as you come to them. Last of all, this book has several animals and the noises they make--very important for that fund of knowledge you are building. Oh, and I forgot the kicker: The spider web is made of some sort of 3D glue, making it tactile. My son loves running his fingers along it. I would have given this book 5 stars, but I love Carle's THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR even more!
Beautifully illustrated story for young children., July 10, 2000
I love this story of the determined spider who is blown on a fence and begins to weave her web, too busy to play with the other animals. She catches her fly at the end. The typical farm animals are represented and young children will be able to identify the animals by the pictures and can make the noises of the animals portrayed. The web can be felt with the fingertips, although my son was never and is still not impressed with this feat, although his mother is. Eric Carle is a masterful illustrator and story teller. If you have never read his books to young children and seen the fascination of a 2 year old sitting and waiting for the page to be turned, you are missing out. He does not have one bad book. His illustrations are stunning. We have a LOT of books at our house and this one is chosen at least once a week for a bedtime story. Highly highly recommended.
My 2-year old loves it., March 9, 2006
This book does not do much for me, but my 2-year old son absolutely loves it. The book gives him a chance to make animal sounds, and the raised texture of the spider web invites his touch. Of course he is fascinated by the spider herself. |
A very busy board book, August 15, 2005
This lovely little story incorporates many of the best things in children's literature. It is educational (teaching animals and their sounds), it involves repetition of a key line (about how busy the spider is) and it even has a touch-and-feel aspect (the spider web is done in 3-D relief). Highly recommended for the pre-reader set!
Cute, March 2, 2004
This is a cute story about a spider who drops in on a farm. All the farm animals greet her and invite her to play. But the spider spends the day building her web instead. The book is fun and informative, and not at all scary. The pages are doubled so they are easy to turn, but be careful, because inquisitive little fingers may reach inside the pages and rip them. The book has about 350 words.
The Very Busy Spider, October 2, 2003
A Kid's Review
This book is about a spider that is spinning its web while alot of animals came and ask it to play.
The moral of the book is that after your done working you can have fun. It is a good book for young kids because it has colerful pictures and it teaches about spiders and what they do.
I woul say the age rating is 3 to 6.
Great for ALL ages!, March 16, 2003
We started reading this book to our 5 month old son and he loved it from the beginning! Every page has a different animal with the specific noises each animal makes. My son laughed at each page and especially loves the last page with the owl hooing. We read it almost every day!
Another Favorite, November 15, 2002
Lovely book with all the barnyard friends. Great way to get your child to participate by having them make the animal sound. Also, the illustrations are raised so there is a three-dimensional feel to them. We thoroughly enjoy Eric Carle books in our house and you can't go wrong with this one!
Almost perfect, November 10, 2002
I would give it a 5, but it is a pitty that it is a little book. It is ok for a one to one basis, but it looses a bit when working with it in a classroom. If it was bigger, than it would be easier for the children to appreciate better the details. The pupils wanted to stand up to see better. They did love to wait their turn to do so and to touch the spider web. For the rest, it is wonderful: the sounds of the animals, the predictive pattern and more. Through it they also learned to appreciate the beauty of the creation done by a spider and have grown in respect for this animal. Thanks Eric Carle!
The Very Busy Spider, November 1, 2002
The Very Busy Spider is a great book for kids. Ilove it because it just focuses on what a spider does in one day. Spinds the web, spinds the web, spinds the web, etc. An at the end of the day catches the fly. It is kind of what we do as human being. We work, work, work, and after we work somemore, play! That is kind of what the spider did at the end of her day. It is a good book for kids because it shows them lots of colorful pictures. The illustrations are great for litte 3 year olds. This is a great book. I even like to read it when I can!! I have given this book 4 stars because it teaches kids the basics about insects.
Cute Book!, June 10, 2002
Reviewer:
A readerThis book is really adorable. My son loves to feel the textured web as it gets closer and closer to being finished with each page. He also likes to look for the fly on each page. I'd recommend it to anyone!
I consider this a classic!, May 21, 2002
While a spider weaves her web, animals of the farm come and ask her to play. The spider is too busy spinning her web. Adorable.
Several things make this book a true winner. First the repitition. The repitition is an excellent way for pre-readers and early reader to learn to read. (A whole language approach, but it gives kids some success.) Second, the tactile approach- as the spider spins her web you can feel the strings of the web and the fly that is buzzing around. This is a fun book to read and my son loves to touch the pages. The illustrations are adorable.
When I taught Kindergarten I always had a unit worked up around this book. There are so many creative and fun things you can do for activities and learning with this book. Now that I'm at home with my kiddos, we still do many of these fun things after we read this book. We made spiderwebs out of glue on black paper.
Enjoy.
A story that never gets old, February 16, 2002
Reviewer: A reader
For a very long time this book was my daughter's favorite. She loves having it read to her (especially when you do all the animal voices) and she thoroughly enjoys running her fingers across the raised spider's web on every page. We have shared this book together dozens and dozens of times. It is especially endearing to the 2-3 year old crowd.
Great intro to animal sounds!, November 4, 2001
Our 8 month old loves this book! She giggles and grins each and everytime I read it to her. By far her favorite book. |
a beautifully spun tale!, August 22, 2001
Reviewer: A reader
what an amazing book. as usual, eric carle's illustrations are outstanding, and the text is simplistic and includes animals that all children can identify with. the story features a spider who gets blown onto a fence post located on a farm. there she begins to spin her web (which is embossed on the page and allows the child to feel the story)and is tempted by many of the farm animals to stop. she however, continues to busily craft her magnificent web in the end catching her fly and falling fast asleep. the book is so perfect for toddlers that my two year old can now read the book to me! this is a must have for any child's library.
Just one of Eric Carle's greats, July 14, 2001
Reviewer: A reader
I love this book! I am a third grade teacher and I use this book every October in my Spider unit. No matter how many times the class has heard it, they're eager to hear it again. Part of its charm is being able to feel the "sliky thread" as the web is being built. I love that it comes as a board book so I can let my 17 month old son enjoy it on his own. A great book to read at the end of a busy day.
A Cute Spider!!!!!, May 21, 2001
We just purchased this book a few days ago, and my 17 month old daughter already loves it!!
She loves hearing all of the different sounds and the pictures really seem to hold her attention. Also, the text on each page is not too long, as she can't seem to handle books that are too long at her age.
I love the ending, it is very cute and sweet!
|
The Very Busy Spider, March 24, 2001
Yes, this book is about a spider but what it does is teach your child through enjoyment. This has been my son's favorite book since he knew what a book was and he is now age five. I even had to get the board book so he could take it everywhere, as I know I have sat down on the kitchen floor, outside on the driveway, in the middle of the supermarket because it was time to read the spider book. My son has two older sisters' who also did enjoy this book but I see the difference between girls and boys. A book my son never could sit still and listen he had to get up and mock each animal and sound. This is not just for the youngest child as my daughters learned to read and it is a great early reading book. My son has this memorized and does read it to all his friends and preschool class. This is just another wonderful book by Eric Carle. The author who has the most extraordinary way, of teaching the youngest child about life and all through his wonderful pictures! Thank-you Eric Carle for the many hours my children have enjoyed!
A Busy Spider, December 24, 2000
A Kid's Review
This is about a spider who works hard. Very hard. But the other animals ask her to play with them. But she says no, because she's trying to catch a fly. So she meakes her web as big as possible and with courage, she catches the fly. There are very pretty pictures in this book. If you want to find out more, look at the other reviews or see if you can get the book.
The Very Busy Spider, July 11, 2000
This is great book about a spider's determination to spin a web and not be deterred by the other farm animals. The theme centers on completing a job(task) and how simple things can become complex beautiful creations.
Note to teachers: This is a multisensory book great for tactile learners. The book teaches the different farm animals, the sounds they make and their jobs.
The Very Busy Spider, July 11, 2000
This was a story about a spider that spins a web without allowing itself to be distracted by the other farm animals. Its theme is starting a job and finsihing it and how a simple creation can become beautiful.
Note to teacher: This is a multisensory book greeat for tactile learners. It discusses the different farm animals and the sounds they make.It has repetitive text.The book also talks about the different jobs that animals have.
Beautifully illustrated story for young children., July 10, 2000
I love this story of the determined spider who is blown on a fence and begins to weave her web, too busy to play with the other animals. She catches her fly at the end. The typical farm animals are represented and young children will be able to identify the animals by the pictures and can make the noises of the animals portrayed. The web can be felt with the fingertips, although my son was never and is still not impressed with this feat, although his mother is. Eric Carle is a masterful illustrator and story teller. If you have never read his books to young children and seen the fascination of a 2 year old sitting and waiting for the page to be turned, you are missing out. He does not have one bad book. His illustrations are stunning. We have a LOT of books at our house and this one is chosen at least once a week for a bedtime story. Highly highly recommended.
A must for your toddler's book collection, January 26, 2000
My daugther received this book when she was 1 and loved it from the start..We never got through the story itself...we just went through and did all the animal noises. Now my daughter is 4 and now she reads the book to me. My son is now 16 months and it's the first book he's been interested in. Again, we don't get through the story, just the animal noises, but, similar to his sister, I'm sure we'll graduate to actually reading the story. If you get this book, you won't be dissapointed.
My chldren love this book!, March 6, 1999
Reviewer: A reader
This is a great book not only because of the wonderful colors Eric Carle always uses, but because throughout the book children can feel the spider's web that goes across each page while you read the story to them. It keeps even the youngest of children interested and curious in what the web will become at the end of the book.
Excellent interactive & fun board book for toddlers, August 6, 1996
Reviewer: A reader
This book is one of my favorites to read, and my son's favorite interactive book. You can get creative in making the sounds of the animals, and let the child explore the pages both by sight and touch
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