Spooktober Story Time - Spiders!

A not too spooky book list and story time idea

It’s October, which for many people means it’s a spooky season leading up to Halloween. For our spooky season, we are doing a series of posts featuring some topics that often seem spooky, but are often misunderstood! For our first “Spooktober” feature, we’re sharing books about spiders!

A lot of people are afraid of spiders, though most spiders are harmless to humans. But, even someone like me who loves to see a spider web stretched across the garden on a fall morning can appreciate a spider’s spooky vibe!

Today we have a list of books that will hopefully help readers understand and appreciate spiders a little bit more, even if you still find them spooky!

Read: Any book about spiders, especially one from this list

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. This board book is colorful and fun, with repetitive, rhythmic text that is perfect for the youngest readers.

Bear’s Scare by Jacob Grant. When Bear sees a sticky web in his clean cozy, house, he and his stuffed bear Ursula search all over for the spider in order to take care of the “spider problem.” The problem doesn’t get resolved how Bear expects!

Nothing Scares Spider by S. Marendaz, illustrate by Carly Gledhill. When Spider heads off to explore the whole wide yard, her friends worry about what to do without her and keep calling her back by tugging on her web, which is making Spider impatient. What will happen when there’s a real emergency?

Scurry! The Truth About Spiders by Annette Whipple. This is a fascinating and informational book about spiders of all kinds, with super cool, detailed photographs and a humorous illustrated sidebar on each spread. The back matter in this book includes instructions for a fun spider web challenge.

Jumper by Jessica Lanan. This book, beautifully illustrated in watercolor paintings, is about a day in the life of a backyard jumping spider alongside the activities of the people who live there. Includes tips for finding and identifying spiders at the back of the book.

I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton. This is a fun and amusing informational picture book with a narrator who is “trying to love spiders” by learning all about them.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Would any list of spider books be complete without this classic middle grade novel about a terrific pig and his friendship with the spider who lives in the barn?

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Note: Some links will take you to the Read, Discuss, Do bookshop.org storefront. Purchasing a book from the storefront will support independent bookstores and help maintain Read, Discuss, Do at no additional cost to you.

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Discuss

• Do you think spiders are spooky or fascinating? Or both?

• When was the last time you saw a spider? Where was it?

• After reading an informational book about spiders, ask: Are you more or less likely to smash a spider now that you know more about them?

• What is the most interesting thing you know about spiders?

• How many good things can you list about spiders?

Do: Try one of these spidery activity ideas

• Draw a spider web! Here is a reel on our Instagram page with a tutorial.

• Have an expedition to look for spiders in your yard or a nearby park.

• Make spider cookies, like these!

• Sing The Itsy Bitsy Spider

• Make a spider collage inspired by Eric Carle’s The Very Busy Spider

• Try this spider web obstacle course