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The Roly-Poly Spider
Parodying the classic The Itsy Bitsy Spider, the hilarious story tells of a Roly-Poly Spider who has all of her friends for lunch—literally—and becomes so chubby that she cannot get up the water spout.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 2, 2012
When I was a child, there were many books in the past that made me feel a bit… uncomfortable because of the content and they were usually those books where characters eat other characters… “The Roly-Poly Spider” was one of those books. “The Roly-Poly Spider” is a children’s book written by Jill Sardegna along with illustrations by Tedd Arnold and it is about how a spider declares that she is lonely, but she is also extremely hungry. “The Roly-Poly Spider” may have cute illustrations that children will love, but the story itself might be too morbid for younger children.
The story starts off with a yellow round spider called the roly-poly spider who declares that she is lonely and wants company, but she was also hungry. The rest of the book basically details about the roly-poly spider inviting some other bugs to her home and then eating them up afterwards!
This summary is pretty short, but that is pretty much what happens in this book as it is just about a spider eating her “friends” in different kinds of ways.
One of the things I did like about this book was the illustrations by Tedd Arnold as they were extremely cute to look at. I loved the way that Tedd Arnold made all of the bugs’ eyes seems large and bulgy, which gives them a humorous touch. I also did like the appearance of the roly-poly spider herself as she is shaped like a yellow round ball with pink small legs and it was hilarious seeing how she would start to constantly grow in size every time she eats a bug on each page. I definitely enjoyed the way that Jill Sardegna made the verses in this book follow to the beat of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” as I found myself singing out the story to the beat of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” (which was my favorite part of reading this whole book).
“Do not judge a book by its cover.”
This is definitely a phrase that should be heeded when reading books that may look innocent, but are really dark and creepy on the inside!
Do not let the cute illustration of a yellow ball shaped spider on the cover fool you!
Inside this book is a really morbid tale about how this yellow ball shaped spider eats her “friends” for lunch! That was probably one of the things about this book that made me feel uncomfortable when I read it as a child and I still feel uncomfortable about it as an adult. The whole idea about the roly-poly spider eating her “friends” really disturbed me since it gave this book a more sinister feel that sort of rubbed me the wrong way. Now I understand that she is a spider and spiders eat other bugs, but maybe if the book had left out the whole idea that the spider is eating her “friends” then I would been okay with the fact that the spider was just doing what was within her nature when it came to eating other bugs. Now, I am usually a huge fan of morbid books, but in this case, the whole idea about using cute illustrations to cover up a morbid tale just did not sit well with me. To me, if the book wants to be cute, then they should have cute illustrations and if the book wants to be morbid, then they should use morbid illustrations. Now, if the illustrations in this book were darker, I probably would have enjoyed this book a bit more since I would know what I was getting myself into. Also, there were a few gruesome images in this book (although not your average too gruesome images) as one of the images has the roly-poly spider putting a straw through a beetle’s head and sucking out its juice and another image had the roly-poly spider eating the knees of a bee and those images might frighten younger children.
Overall, “The Roly-Poly Spider” may have cute illustrations and it was pretty impressive singing out this story to the tune of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” but the story itself was a bit too morbid to really be enjoyed all the way. For a better book that also has a plot where the spider is trying to eat their prey but is told in a poetic way and has somewhat dark illustrations that actually conveys what you are really getting into, try The Spider and the Fly.
The story starts off with a yellow round spider called the roly-poly spider who declares that she is lonely and wants company, but she was also hungry. The rest of the book basically details about the roly-poly spider inviting some other bugs to her home and then eating them up afterwards!
This summary is pretty short, but that is pretty much what happens in this book as it is just about a spider eating her “friends” in different kinds of ways.
One of the things I did like about this book was the illustrations by Tedd Arnold as they were extremely cute to look at. I loved the way that Tedd Arnold made all of the bugs’ eyes seems large and bulgy, which gives them a humorous touch. I also did like the appearance of the roly-poly spider herself as she is shaped like a yellow round ball with pink small legs and it was hilarious seeing how she would start to constantly grow in size every time she eats a bug on each page. I definitely enjoyed the way that Jill Sardegna made the verses in this book follow to the beat of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” as I found myself singing out the story to the beat of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” (which was my favorite part of reading this whole book).
“Do not judge a book by its cover.”
This is definitely a phrase that should be heeded when reading books that may look innocent, but are really dark and creepy on the inside!
Do not let the cute illustration of a yellow ball shaped spider on the cover fool you!
Inside this book is a really morbid tale about how this yellow ball shaped spider eats her “friends” for lunch! That was probably one of the things about this book that made me feel uncomfortable when I read it as a child and I still feel uncomfortable about it as an adult. The whole idea about the roly-poly spider eating her “friends” really disturbed me since it gave this book a more sinister feel that sort of rubbed me the wrong way. Now I understand that she is a spider and spiders eat other bugs, but maybe if the book had left out the whole idea that the spider is eating her “friends” then I would been okay with the fact that the spider was just doing what was within her nature when it came to eating other bugs. Now, I am usually a huge fan of morbid books, but in this case, the whole idea about using cute illustrations to cover up a morbid tale just did not sit well with me. To me, if the book wants to be cute, then they should have cute illustrations and if the book wants to be morbid, then they should use morbid illustrations. Now, if the illustrations in this book were darker, I probably would have enjoyed this book a bit more since I would know what I was getting myself into. Also, there were a few gruesome images in this book (although not your average too gruesome images) as one of the images has the roly-poly spider putting a straw through a beetle’s head and sucking out its juice and another image had the roly-poly spider eating the knees of a bee and those images might frighten younger children.
Overall, “The Roly-Poly Spider” may have cute illustrations and it was pretty impressive singing out this story to the tune of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” but the story itself was a bit too morbid to really be enjoyed all the way. For a better book that also has a plot where the spider is trying to eat their prey but is told in a poetic way and has somewhat dark illustrations that actually conveys what you are really getting into, try The Spider and the Fly.
January 7, 2009
I have to review this book because I don't want people to think I go around looking for things (books, people, just ... things) that annoy me so I can excoriate them on the web. I do, I just don't want you to think that's all I do.
There are some books I like, really like, and this is one of them. I just used it today in a storytime and, as per usual, it went over great. I love it, kids love it, the rest of you can go soak your heads.
What is not to like about this book? First of all, you can pair it with the fingerplay "Eensy-Weensy Spider" (don't try to tell me it's "itsy-bitsy" - my mommy was never wrong) and if you sing the book, it scans perfectly. It's gross, it's funny, and I love Tedd Arnold's illustrations.
What did I learn from this book? Well, the lesson therein that I share with all the children is: "We Don't Eat Our Friends." 'Nuff said. Always keep a copy of this on hand. I do.
There are some books I like, really like, and this is one of them. I just used it today in a storytime and, as per usual, it went over great. I love it, kids love it, the rest of you can go soak your heads.
What is not to like about this book? First of all, you can pair it with the fingerplay "Eensy-Weensy Spider" (don't try to tell me it's "itsy-bitsy" - my mommy was never wrong) and if you sing the book, it scans perfectly. It's gross, it's funny, and I love Tedd Arnold's illustrations.
What did I learn from this book? Well, the lesson therein that I share with all the children is: "We Don't Eat Our Friends." 'Nuff said. Always keep a copy of this on hand. I do.
June 3, 2011
I visited our son's preschool and another little boy asked me to read this book to him. I thought, "Hmm, cute cartoon cover...this will surely be a nice book." WRONG-O. I had to stifle my gag reflex as I read it. A spider spins her web and puts on the air of being lonely so as to entice other insects over, ONLY TO EAT THEM. And it doesn't just imply the eating, but it shows it either as she is eating them or just before, with their scared pained face knowing their ensuing fate. NO THANKS!! It was rated "R" in my mind, for "disturbing images."
November 18, 2017
I may have been a slightly demented child for enjoying this book as much as I did. When I grew up, my sister gave it away to the library, and I have never seen it since. Like a spider disappearing into the corner of one's house, I have never been able to find it again...
Update: One of my good friends must have read my earlier review, for not a month later, I received a copy in the mail. I needed a roly-poly spider to eat up the flies in my room... ;)
Update: One of my good friends must have read my earlier review, for not a month later, I received a copy in the mail. I needed a roly-poly spider to eat up the flies in my room... ;)
February 5, 2015
This is not appropriate for children. It's disgusting and horrific.
October 15, 2020
She eats everyone🤮
March 15, 2017
A favorite!
August 22, 2015
All the preschool kids that I have read this to absolutely love it, and they want to have it read to them every day, out of a classroom full of books. I can't believe that so many reviewers think that there is a monstrous lesson being taught here. Sorry everyone, spiders catch bugs and eat them! Roly-Poly Spider isn't being presented here as a role model for cryin' out loud, she's a villain! I suppose the faint of heart would be shocked that my grammar school teachers (nuns in parochial school,in fact)read Edgar Allan Poe stories to us. Did I become a serial killer? NO, I learned to love books! And I love this book too... one of the few that I can read again and again to my preschoolers and enjoy every time (as they do).
April 9, 2014
This is a humorous tale about a very hungry spider. The rhyming narrative is fun to read aloud although some of the rhymes flow better than others. It's a bit creepy (to me, at least) that she interacts and makes 'friends' with her food.
The illustrations by Tedd Arnold are colorful and cartoonish and remind us strongly of his Fly Guy series. Overall, it's a fun story to read aloud and we enjoyed reading it together.
The illustrations by Tedd Arnold are colorful and cartoonish and remind us strongly of his Fly Guy series. Overall, it's a fun story to read aloud and we enjoyed reading it together.
March 2, 2012
The Roly-Poly Spider is so hungry in one day she eats a beetle, a ladybug, a caterpillar, a millipede, a bumblebee, a bee and a fly. She's so fat that when she travels down a drainpipe, she has to wiggle and wobble herself out. And she's still hungry after that!
June 17, 2010
Cute book. The 7-year-old I read it with enjoyed it. Great to use when teaching predicting to younger kids.
April 5, 2011
I thought this was a little morbid for children. There is something about enticing "friends" so one isn't lonely and then eating them that is too much.
September 9, 2011
what's the book's inner meaning/plot--there's fun in cruelty????? anyways pictures were good..
April 19, 2018
Fond memories.
I still love to look at the adorkable illustrations. 💗🤣
I still love to look at the adorkable illustrations. 💗🤣
July 4, 2013
A four year old I work with loves this book. She will listen to it twice in a row and ask 'again?'.
February 24, 2016
Text to text: The spider and the fly (don't be seduced by sweet words)
Lesson: animals will abide by their nature (Fantastic mr. fox/ Carnivores)
Lesson: animals will abide by their nature (Fantastic mr. fox/ Carnivores)
February 9, 2012
Unexpectedly and pleasingly morbid. Think could go over very well with preschool storytime.
April 10, 2016
Terrible and disturbing. We threw it away.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews