The Very Busy Spider
Eric Carle's Very Series
on Goodreads (40,743)
What’s inside...
From bestselling author and illustrator Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, comes another classic tale about one very busy spider. Early one morning, a little spider spins her web on a fence post. Despite the attempts of the nearby farm animals to distract her, she diligently continues her work. When finished, she showcases her beautiful and useful creation. This multi-sensory board book allows children to engage with the story through touch, sight, and sound, making it an enriching experience that meets the needs of both visually handicapped and sighted children.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
1-4
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the spider feels as she works on her web all day?
Why do you think the spider keeps working on her web even when other animals ask her to do other things?
How do you think the web helps the spider?
Can you think of a time when you worked hard on something like the spider? What was it and how did you feel?
What does this story teach us about focus and perseverance?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, ask your child what they know about spiders and webs, providing a connection to the story’s theme.
While reading, pause to let your child predict what the other animals will say to the spider and what the spider might do next.
Encourage your child to describe the illustrations and relate them to the text to enhance comprehension and appreciation of Eric Carle’s artwork.
After reading, relate the story to your child’s experiences by discussing the importance of hard work and concentration in achieving goals.
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the reading session interactive and fun, keeping your child engaged.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The spider in the story continuously works on her web, undistracted by the other animals inviting her to join in their activities. Her perseverance is rewarded when she completes her beautiful web.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of sticking to a task even when distractions arise. This can be applied in scenarios such as completing homework, learning a new skill, or finishing chores.
Example Lesson: Focus
Explanation: Throughout the book, the spider remains focused on spinning her web despite numerous distractions from her animal friends. This focus helps her to successfully catch her food by the end.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of focusing on their tasks to achieve their goals, applicable in settings like schoolwork, crafts, or sports.
Example Lesson: Independence
Explanation: The spider undertakes the task of building the web on her own, making decisions and solving problems independently.
Real-World Application: This illustrates the empowerment in working independently and taking initiative, important for personal growth in activities ranging from school projects to personal hobbies.
Example Lesson: Diligence
Explanation: The spider works diligently and does not give up, showing the importance of hard work and effort.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to apply themselves diligently in whatever they do, understanding that their efforts yield results, be it in academics, sports, or relationships.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The way the spider designs her web shows creativity in building something both functional and beautiful.
Real-World Application: It inspires children to be creative in their endeavors, showing them that creativity can lead to functional and aesthetically pleasing results in tasks such as drawing, building, or writing.