Photographer Nic Bishop is willing to do a lot to get a good shot. For some of the images in this striking book, he hosted a number of eight-legged houseguests in order to capture incredible examples of spider behavior on film. Bishop’s dazzling, larger-than-life photographs are not for the fainthearted, at least where spiders are concerned. The sight of dozens of baby wolf spiders clinging to their mother’s back in full-page photographic glory is enough to make even spider enthusiasts shiver. An engaging informational narrative, and a fascinating essay from Bishop on how he achieved some of the shots, rounds out this creepy—literally—volume. (Ages 7–12)

Text and photographs introduce readers to different types of spiders and their behaviour. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.