This is a humorous tale about how a cunning spider entices a very conceited and vain fly into the web. The drawings are beautifully done. It's a great read-aloud especially around Halloween and much expression and voice inflection can be used when reading it aloud. It would be an excellent choice for the comprehension strategy of visualization. The teacher could read this book aloud and then have the students draw some scene that they visualized in their mind when it is read. Then read the book again and show the pictures. ( )

Great story with beautiful illustrations. The illustrations were my favorite part of the book, so delicate.

An old tale about a spider who flatters her young visitor until, against better judgement, the little fly enters the spider's lair (parlor) and of course is never seen again. The illustrations are darkly beautiful and the moral against believing flattery is as timely now as ever.

I was surprised by the ending, but I thought the letter at the back of the book by spider was humorous and fitting. I like the words "what did you expect from a story about a spider and a fly?" I thought the information about spiders been trappers was good for the readers to be to understand- it is their way of life, a survival technique. Again, I don't know how well kids would connect with the theme- "the spider says, "take what has transpired within these pages to heart, or you might well find yourself trapped in some schemer's web."

The Spider and the Fly
I absolutely loved it. It was funny. It was scary. The spider wants to eat the fly.
Reviewed by Max