The Itsy Bitsy Spider (Iza Trapani's Extended Nursery Rhymes)

We made a special trip to Munro's (my local bookstore in Victoria, BC, is owned by Alice Munro's ex-husband, do you guys know that about Victoria, LibraryThing? It's beautiful in there) to get this book because Emmett was demanding an Itsy Bitsy Spider book to bring together his favourite song and his favourite medium. This one was cute and the extended verses, which I am usually doubtful of, gave us further insight into the spider's life and times, and I liked it on the whole for its spider's eye perspective but then we left it on the bus and now it's gone:( But my kid has lots of other books and a roof over his head, don't cry for us!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider puts into book form the classic children's song of the same name; however, it features far more verses that we typically sing with children. Children will gravitate towards this book because of the familiarity of the beginning and then will get sucked in seeing where the rest of it goes. The rhyming structure is always appealing to young children, as well as the various antics of the eponymous spider. The illustrations are delicate and delightful, with an interesting shiny glaze (I wish the process were described in the book's ancillary materials so I could better articulate it) overlaying parts of the illustrations. This book is great to share with preschoolers especially, although younger elementary school-aged show more children and those toddlers with longer attention spans may also enjoy it as well. show less

Summary:
In this book a tiny spider goes on many adventures trying to find the perfect place to build her web. Every time she starts to make progress on the journey, she gets knocked down and has to start all over. The tiny spider’s perseverance finds her a perfect place to build her web in a tree. In the end she builds her web and is able to finally relax in the warm sun.
Personal Reaction:
It was neat to find more lyrics to this popular children’s song. I sing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to my own children and they love that I have more words to sing in the song since I have discovered this book. They love that she finally gets to have her happy ending.
Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. In the classroom, I can do a whole lesson plan show more based on insects. I can start with spiders and have the students bring in pictures or find magazine articles about different kinds of spiders.
2. This book is a great example of determination. I can read it to the class and have them explain how the spider is demonstrating the term determination. Then I can have the students tell me some of their own experiences when they had to use determination in a situation. show less

This story is almost just like the song most of us all learned in preschool. Except instead of just climbing the water spout the spider climbs many other obstacles. The spider in this story climbs a chair, a waterspout, a maple tree, etc. The only problem the spider had was that every time she would get to the top, she would fall back down and have to start over. The spider never gave up though. Finally on her last obstacle (the maple tree) she reached the top and made a web. So after never giving up she finally reached her goal. I really enjoy this book each time I read it. It takes me back to childhood when I learned the song. This story is good for children by teaching them perseverance and to never give up on your dream just like show more the spider never gave up on building her dream (the web). In a classroom I would teach the song to students and we could all sing together, we could also make little spiders out of pipe cleaners and write something each child doesn't want to give up on, on each leg. show less

Summary:
In this traditional literature book, you read along as you remember the same old nursery rhyme that you've heard since you were born. Then shockingly, the author puts a twist to the story. Soon, the itsy bitsy spider is not only climbing up the water spout, but he's also climbing up the kitchen wall, a chair, a yellow pail, and a tree. After many failed attempts, the spider finally reaches his goal and enjoys the sunlight at the top of a tree.

Personal Reaction:
I love this story and I love the cool twist the author brought on a traditional piece of literature! I think it teaches the children about perserverance and motivates them to keep trying to reach their goals no matter what obstacles they might face.

Classroom Extension show more Ideas:
1. In an art lesson, I would have the children make spiders and webs out of pipe cleaners. They could also decorate them as they please.

2. To go along with their spiders and webs, I may have my students make up a new ending to "the itsy bitsy spider". Just where did the spider go after he made it to the top? show less

The spider attempted several times to crawl up several items, but was knocked down on every attempt. The last attempt the spider finally climbed up a tree without getting knocked out of the way and was able to spin her web. Once the spider was done spinning her web she relaxed in the sun.

I can relate to this book because many times I get frustrated when I attempt things and either get my ideas shot down or I can not figure out how to do something. This book reminds me not to give up, but to keep trying and eventually I will be successful.

This book can be used when children get frustrated when they are learning how to read or the first time they have to learn how to do math and they just don't get it. Teach the students that some things show more will be hard for them, but with practice and persistence they will eventually get it. show less

This story expands on the short version of the song we all know. After the first "verse" the spider tries to climb up many other obstacles: A wall but the fan blew him down, a water pail but a mouse knocked him over, a rocking chair but a cat pushed him and up a tree but he fell down next to the a little girl. He didn't give up, the spider climbed the tree again where he spun a web and basked in the sun.

I liked this expanded story of the song I knew growing up. On the very last page of the book, there is actually the score of the song, along with all of the verses. I enjoyed the colorful illustrations that portray the spider as cute and cuddly. My favorite part is the very end where the spider is lying in his web wearing sunglasses.

I show more would do a nursery rhyme unit and include the Itsy Bitsy Spider. We would learn the song and sing together. You could also do a lesson on never giving up and even though you may have to try many times, you can still succeed at what you want to do. You could have the children reflect by writing a story of their own based on the story's principle. show less