I know many people are afraid of spiders, but I think they are fascinating!
For example–did you know that tarantulas got their name from a type of European wolf spiders?
Someone saw a giant, hairy, eight-legged beast in the Amazon rainforest and decided to name it after that other giant, hairy, eight-legged beast they knew from back home.
And now, we still use that name–even those the two types of spiders are only distantly related. This sort of name-sharing can make common names confusing!
Names aren’t the only confusing things about spiders.
Many people assume that spiders are largish, fast, rather hairy, and inclined to chase people. In reality, most spiders are relatively small and shy. We’re huge compared to a spider, so they just want to stay out of our way!
And spiders come in kinds of shapes, and colors, from fuzzy jumping spiders to elegant crab spiders!
If you or your kids are trying to learn more about spiders, I think picture books are a great place to start.
(This post includes affiliate links. I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a small commission for purchases made through these links. There is no extra cost to use these links.)
If you want to avoid shopping on Amazon, I suggest checking Bookshop or your local bookstores instead.
My favorite picture books about spiders:
I’m Trying to Love Spiders, by Bethany Barton – what should you do if you see a spider? A fantastically humorous approach to learning about spiders and their role.
The Spider, by Elise Gravel – this spider wants to introduce himself (and the rest of his clan)! If you’ll just listen, you’ll find out how clever and artistic spiders can be.
Spiders! Strange and Wonderful, by Laurence Pringle, illustrated by Meryl Henderson – if you have kids who love information and details, this is the book for them! It’s a fun, gorgeously illustrated nonfiction book that describes spiders and what they do.
Are You a Spider? (Backyard Books), by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries – learn about some of the more common spiders with this gentle, easy-to-read picture book.
Nefertiti the Spidernaut, by Darcy Pattison, illustrated by Valeria Tisnes – a spider in space? This nonfiction book tells about a small jumping spider’s journey to the International Space Station. There, scientists studied the spider to see how she learned to move and hunt without gravity.
Are They Really Scary? by Julia Inserro, illustrated by Tanja Varcelija – why are we scared of spiders? Because they’re big and hairy? Or because they’re different? This book explores human AND animal diversity, as kids learn more about spiders.
Can a Spider Be Fluffy?
As I mentioned before, I find spiders fascinating.
So fascinating, in fact, that I’ve written my own picture book about spiders, Can a Spider Be Fluffy? This book introduces kids to small spiders, brown spiders, hairy spiders, and even spiders that can throw their silk!
If your kid isn’t too sure what to think about spiders, Can a Spider Be Fluffy? is a good way to explore different types of spiders.
You can get signed hardcovers in my webstore, but this book is also available on Amazon and most other major bookstores.
Activities & Resources:
A printable bug journal page – you can use this to create a scrapbook-style journal featuring the insects, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies your kids find.
7 activities to teach kids about bugs – from hands on bug hunts to insect surveys, these activities can help kids get familiar with all kinds of bugs, not just spiders.
Activity pages for Can a Spider Be Fluffy? – this packet includes coloring pages, a scavenger hunt, and several art projects, along with other activities.
Scientific names and why we use them – since common names can get confusing, scientists use special names to classify spiders and other organisms. I mention this issue in the back matter for Can a Spider Be Fluffy, but this guest post explains how teachers and parents can use spiders to introduce kids to scientific classifications.
More reading recommendations:
If you want to learn more about bugs and other types of creepy-crawlies, be sure to check out my other book lists:
Books about butterflies & moths
Books about bees & other pollinators
What about you? Do you have any favorite resources for teaching kids about spiders? Let me know in the comments!
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