Review: Miss Spider's ABC

Title: Miss Spider’s ABC

Author: David Kirk

Illustrator: David Kirk

Publisher: Hodder Callaway

Format: Hardcover with dust jacket

Language: English

ISBN: 0 7336 0935 X

For ages: 0-8

Type: Picture Book

About: For those of you who are familiar with the original Little Miss Spider (a book I can still recite verbatim), you will understand how addictive David Kirk’s and quirky rhymes can be. Kirk has a wonderful knack for writing books for very young children that also get the toes of adults curling with glee.

While I’m not an enormous fan of computer-generated illustrations, Kirk takes his high tech pictures to a whole new level of class and glamour – using the most exquisite colour and quirky characters that walk a fine line between cute and a little frightening. This style is so reminiscent of the work of early illustrators of children’s book – and lend such personality and drama to his books.

Kirk’s play on alliteration charms the tongue – fireflies fandango, ladybugs laugh, moths mingle. Kids will love listening to mum and dad curling their tongue around each letter.

Miss Spider’s ABC is a celebration of entymology in all its various forms – taking us on a bright and beautiful surprise journey through the alphabet to a highly-anticipated ending… an ending that won’t let us down.

Related books:
Little Miss Spider
Miss Spider’s Tea Party
Miss Spider’s Wedding
Miss Spider’s New Car
Miss Spider: The Counting Book
Little Miss Spider: Sunny Patch School (part of the 2009 Premier's Reading Challenge for NSW)

Teachers' Notes

This book is available online:

Booktopia AU$26.40
SeekBooks AU$32.00
Fishpond AU$25.99
Amazon US$11.53