Review of I'm Trying to Love Spiders

I’m Trying to Love Spiders
Written and Illustrated by Bethany Barton    
Ages:  4– 8                               
​Grade level:  P – 3

This is a cute book.  The more I read, the more I liked it.  But that’s not why I’m featuring it.  It’s because of the story behind the story.  Bethany wrote this book because a spider wandered across her artwork.  She couldn’t smash it and ruin her picture.  She was stuck watching, but her plot is no accident.  Bethany researched spider superpowers.  They have…8 eyes, REALLY!  Spin webs, DUH!  And eat bugs, My Favorite! The only thing I’d change is how our main character dealt with her fear of spiders.  She wanted to smash them with a handprint but didn’t.  I love spiders OUTSIDE,  but inside…I face my fear with a shoe-covered foot.  I like her inside strategy…till a spider sits beside me.  EEK!!!

PS- I wrote my first story because of an accident.  I held a bat, the flying mammal, on a mop.  It’s safely stored in my computer.  Maybe someday, I’ll pull it out and edit it, on purpose.

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