The Spider and the Fly (book)

The Spider and the Fly is a picture book published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in October 1, 2002, . The author and illustrator, Tony Diterlizzi, based this book on a poem by Mary Howitt originally written in 1829. The Spider and the Fly became a Caldecott Honors book in 2003.

Description

The Spider and the Fly is a picture book for children written as a poem, authored by Mary Howitt and illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi. The book was published in 2002 by Simon & Schuster book for Young Readers. The book contains 40 pages and is designed for children ages 5 and up. The setting of this story is at the spider's house and inside the spider's house. The story takes place at nighttime due to the pictures being dark. The only characters in this book are the spider and the fly.The spider approaches himself being evil and the fly as to her being innocent. The story is being told as a third party. The narrator from this story is not choosing sides, they are just explaining what is happening in the story. The moral of this book is to not trust people you do not know.

Plot

The poem reflects on a spider and his parlor and a fly. The story involves the spider insisting that the fly come inside his parlor. The spider tells the fly "Tis the prettiest little parlor that you ever did spy. The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, and I have many pretty things to show you when you're there." But the Fly knows it is a trick, knowing she can be a meal for the spider and the spider knows as well she is very wise. At the end, one loses and the other wins.

Characters

Main characters are the Spider, the Fly, ghost

Critical reception

Reviews The spider and the fly was announced with reviews. Publishers Weekly said that "DiTerlizzi has spun a visual treat that young sophisticates and adults alike will enjoy." The New York Times reviewed "This cautionary intrusion serves to explicate the metaphor for concretely minded readers, but the message is not likely to diminish their pleasure in the grisly doings one bit."

Awards

• 2003 Caldecott Honors Book

References