Brave Miss Muffet

PreS-Gr 2–This fun twist on a classic nursery rhyme begins with Miss Muffet walking her dog with a big smile on her face. As she sits down to rest and eat her curds and whey, a spider comes along and does not scare her because she thinks spiders are cool! “Look at all those long, lanky legs. Let’s count them!” Beckett’s cartoon-like illustrations, with an abundance of bright colors, epitomize the mood and outgoing personality of Miss Muffet. Is she afraid of the spider that tries to sit “down beside her?” Of course not! What about the tiger or crocodile and their sharp, pointy teeth? This fearless character bravely confronts every animal in the story, from bear to dragon and everything in between, with ease. This is a great read-aloud for a wide range of listeners. It’s not too wordy, and has a lot of humor about a child with a positive attitude who demonstrates the power of bravery and strength, as well as the importance of trying to look on the bright side when presented with something frightening.