Spider and the Fly

"'Will you walk into my parlor, '
said the Spider to the Fly..."
is easily one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and the Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerlizzi as he -- drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s and 1930s -- shines a cinematic spotlight on Mary Howitt's warning, written to her own children about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions.

Author: Mary Howitt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 10/01/2002
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 10.20h x 11.20w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780689852893
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.8
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 64285 / Spider and the Fly


Award: Caldecott Medal - Honor Book
Award: Book Sense Book of the Year Award - Nominee
Award: Charlotte Award - Nominee
Award: Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 07/01/2002 pg. 956
Publishers Weekly 07/01/2002 pg. 79
School Library Journal 09/01/2002 pg. 214
Booklist 10/01/2002 pg. 316
Booksense '76 Childrens Wtr 02 11/01/2002 pg. 1
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2002 pg. 112
New York Times 02/09/2003 pg. 21
ALA Notable Children's Books 03/15/2003 pg. 1309
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2002 pg. 169 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2003 pg. 169 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Publishers Weekly 07/08/2002
School Library Journal 06/01/2005 pg. 56

About the Author
Mary Howitt was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1799. With her husband, William Howitt, she wrote more than 180 books, including the poem The Spider and the Fly: An Apologue: A New Version of an Old Story, which first appeared in The New Year's Gift.

#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi has been creating children's books for over twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Spider & the Fly to chapter book series like the Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with a rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle grade series the Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and been translated in over thirty countries. The Norman Rockwell Museum's exhibition "Never Abandon Imagination" featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi's career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine and USA TODAY and on CNN, PBS, NPR, the BBC, and the Today show.