Book Details
Written by
Illustrated by
Genre
More details
See more book reviews

Miss Spider's Wedding (by David Kirk)

common sense media says

Beautiful art shines over sometimes dark read-aloud.

parents & educators say
See all 6 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the language may leave little ones wondering over words like "milksop" and even the clever "co-webitate."  But Kirk's vibrant, nearly 3-D oil paintings are sure to transport them, especially the golden picture of Miss Spider walking down the aisle in her spider web veil. There are some scary images, especially a dark picture of Spiderus looming over Holley, threatening to eat him -- and there is the part about a spider who has "drunk so much petunia wine/ He's hardly fit to crawl."  But in the end, the book imparts a sweet message about finding true love.

 

 

Educational value: Teaches young readers about storytelling through rhyme. The fantastical eye-popping art may inspire kids to make their own bright creations.
Positive messages: Celebrates the power of true love: "And when she heard his little voice/ It seemed to her somehow/ That she had known him always/ Though they'd never met 'til now."
Positive role models: Spiderus is pretty menacing -- and May is meddling -- but Miss Spider and Holley are gentle and loving with one another. And they're loyal, too.  Miss Spider even rescues Holley when he is attacked by Spiderus, and spends days nursing him back to health.
Violence & scariness: More scary than violent: Spiderus traps Miss Spider's beetle friends in his web, and threatens to eat Holley. His attack causes him to pass out for three days. Miss Spider saves Holley by knocking Spiderus out with a rolling pin.
Language: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Miss Spider's Wedding

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the art. How does Kirk make his images so vibrant? How does he use color to create a mood?
  • Was the story scary?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Miss Spider has found the man of her dreams -- a wise, kind, and polite young spider named Holley -- but a meddling friend thinks he's not good enough for her. So she arranges for scheming Spiderus Reeves to press his affections on Miss Spider. When Miss Spider spurns his honey-tongued advances, he is enraged. "You cannot mean," Spiderus howled, / That you're rejecting me! / Tell me this loathsome rival's name; / I'll squash him like a flea!" When Spiderus catches up with Holley, set to administer the fatal bite, Miss Spider sweeps down from the heavens to crown him with a blow from a rolling pin. Soon, wedding bells chime for Holley and Miss Spider.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

A lot of this story will play better for adults than kids: The author uses words like "co-webitate" -- and a lovesick Holley daydreams of Miss Spider, "Envisioning her fine assets, / Her gentle curves, her spinnerets." But read aloud, kids will be lulled by the rhyming poetry, even when they don't understand exactly what's going on -- and they will certainly be captivated by Kirk's nearly 3-D artwork, which transports them into Miss Spider's surreal world. 

Once the menacing Spiderus Reeves is out of the picture, the story brightens considerably, and kids will likely prefer this part of the book: There are fun details about the spider wedding ("June beetles spin in pirouettes,/and clickbugs clack like castanets"), a lovely picture of a golden Miss Spider in in her spider web veil, and a certain sweetness as Miss Spider cherishes finding "the place where love abides."

Kirk's vibrant oil paintings create a glowing surreal world. His art is truly transporting, especially the golden picture of Miss Spider walking down the aisle in her spider web veil.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: David Kirk
Illustrator: David Kirk
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication date: January 1, 1995
Number of pages: 40
Hardcover price: $16.95
This review was written by Kate Pavao
 
 

Review It

 

Review Miss Spider's Wedding

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

3

Most useful reviews by all members

The JP Show
adult
4
 
I read this book when i was five
There's no content in here.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (9) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
soulmait@comca ...
adult
 
Not the usual Kirk
I am a huge fan of Kirk's work, but this book is a disaster. It's scary and completely inappropriate for small children. I consider myself to be fairly open-minded, but this is not acceptable for children.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (6) | had useful details (8) | read my mind (7)
Badatrating
adult
2
 
What is your prob kids
How can a kiddie book be scary
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (6) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (7)
Sanjay407
kid, 13 years old
7
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (5)
arcelios
teen, 16 years old
2
 
What's the problem?
Anyone who has a problem with this clearly has not read it or is overly sensitive. This was one of my favorite books when I was younger, and I still read it for the nostalgia. No problems in it whatsoever.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (5) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (6)
jmoreland8155
parent
 
Very inappropriate. Horrible language and refrences.
I was reading this book to my five year old boys, and I came across the word "pantywaste". Immediately, I put it down. I read it later myself, and there were many more inappropriate words and phrases. One of the illistrations shows the bad spider smoking a cigarette. I absolutely DO NOT recommend this book for children. I actually believe it should be pulled off of the shelves.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (5) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (5)

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you read Miss Spider's Wedding?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already read it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More love, weddings, and celebrations
For kids who love picture books
Browse more books
About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines