Red Spider Hero

PreS-Gr 2—What kid hasn't been amazed by tiny red spider mites? Miller grabs that amazement to create a funny allegory with a red spider hero. Henry is a small red spider with big dreams, who feels that the good life on his spot of pavement is not exciting enough. He goes to his grandpa with itchy dreams of fame, and while his grandpa (smoking a pipe and wearing overalls) reminds him of risks and realities, Henry shoots back silly solutions until he realizes that maybe he'd be just as good staying at home. Luckily for readers, however, they go on an adventure in Henry's imagination first. Cucco's warm watercolor and ink paintings have a timeless feel, with cartoony renderings of the fleas, beetles, and dandelion seeds in Henry's world. The pages show the tooth of the watercolor paper and the blobs of ink that make this story a folksy and very human success. There's even a page with pictures and descriptions of real red spider mites in the back matter.