''Diary of a Spider'' is a children's picture book published in the year 2005 as the sequel to '' Diary of a Worm'' ( WD). It is written by

Doreen Cronin Doreen Cronin (born 1966) is an American writer of children's books, including ''Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type'', a very well-received picture book illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Life Born in Queens, New York and growing up on Long Island, Cron ...

and it is illustrated by

Harry Bliss Harry Bliss (born March 9, 1964, in Rochester, New York) is an American cartoonist and illustrator. Bliss has illustrated many books, and produced hundreds of cartoons and 25 covers for ''The New Yorker''. Bliss has a syndicated single-panel comi ...

. In 2006, Weston Woods Studio adapted this book to film, narrated by

Angus T. Jones Angus Turner Jones (born October 8, 1993) is an American former actor. He is best known for playing Jake Harper in the CBS sitcom ''Two and a Half Men'', for which he won two Young Artist Awards and a TV Land Award during his 10-year tenure as on ...

, and directed by

Gene Deitch Eugene Merril Deitch (August 8, 1924 – April 16, 2020) was an American illustrator, animator, comics artist, and film director who was based in Prague from the 1960s until his death in 2020. Deitch was known for creating animated cartoons ...

Plot

The book is a diary written by a spider. The diary has things such as pictures of Spider's family, a picture of his favorite book, a discovery of a sculpture, and a playbill from the school's production of "

Itsy Bitsy Spider "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (also known as "Incy Wincy Spider" in Australia and Great Britain, and several other similar-sounding names) is a popular nursery rhyme and fingerplay that describes the adventures of a spider as it ascends, descends, and rea ...

". There is also a slight storyline about Spider's friendship with Fly and Grampa hating bugs with six legs. The worm from ''Diary of a Worm'' makes occasional appearances.

Reception

A '' Publishers Weekly'' review says, "This endearing book delivers a gentle message that comes through when Spider muses, "I wish that people wouldn't judge all spiders based on the few spiders that bite. I know if we took the time to get to know each other, we would get along just fine. Just like me and Fly." A ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' review says, "Spider closes with the notion that we could all get along, "just like me and Fly," if we but got to know one another. Once again, brilliantly hilarious". Susan Dove Lempke, of '' Horn Book Magazine'', reviewed the book saying, "Kid humor and spider humor (not to mention worm humor) seem remarkably similar, so expect this second Diary to be just as popular as the first."

Award

*Children's Illustrated Honor Books in the 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year AwardsThe Book Sense Book of the Year

References

2005 children's books American picture books Children's books about spiders Fictional diaries {{2000s-epistolary-novel-stub