Spiders on the Case

Gr 3—5—The Deadlies, a family of brown recluse spiders, think they have finally found a secure home in the rare book room of the Boston Public Library. For the first time, a human, Tom the librarian, welcomes them. He knows spiders eat silverfish, beetles, and other creatures that damage books. Jo Bell and her family know something is amiss when two regular patrons sneak in their X-Acto knives. They are stealing rare maps, and the spiders want to put a stop to it. A new arachnid friend named Buster knows a thing or two about solving crimes. By using knowledge learned in a pop-up book, the spiders set a trap and find a way to communicate with Tom. Young readers will relate to the family drama and rivalry between Jo Bell and her siblings. There are moments of good humor. The spiders in the illustrations are full of expression, and the drawings help move the story along. Fans of Lasky's talking animal fantasies will be caught up in this clever family's web.—Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH