Written by Jenna Lee Gleisner

Pogo Books: All About Arachnids is an eight book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustrations, headings and bold typed words. “Activities & Tools” presents a simple STEM activity and “To Learn More” notes ways to gain more information. Each book has high interest photos and details habitats, behavior, anatomy and diet of a particular spider. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

In Black Widow Spiders, readers learn that only the female is black and red. The male is much smaller and is brown. That’s a surprise! These spiders have venom that is 15 times more powerful than rattlesnake venom, which means we need to stay away. Young readers will learn this and so much more after reading Black Widow Spiders. A fun activity described at the end of the book is to a little research and find out what other animals use red or another bright color to warn away other animals. This book won’t stay on the shelf long. Highly recommended.