The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out!

by Troy Cummings

Artist Troy Cummings has created a clever spin-off of the "Eensy Weensy Spider" nursery rhyme in this humorous picture book, sure to appeal to kids and adults who also love fractured fairy tales.

The Eensy Weensy Spider climbed up the waterspout . . . and everyone knows what happens next! By the time the sun comes out to dry up all the rain, the Eensy Weensy Spider has freaked out over her washout, big-time! "There's no way I'm climbing back up that gutter!" she says. Eensy has lost her climbing courage, but with the help of her best ladybug friend, Polly, she begins to take on bigger and bigger climbing challenges until she's rewarded with the most spectacular view of outer space that any bug has ever seen! Hilarious text and a retro, graphic art style take this popular nursery rhyme to new heights. There's also a fun size chart on the end pages for kids to track Eensy's progress as she tackles taller and taller objects. Spin-offs of children's songs and nursery rhymes are very popular with kids, parents, and teachers!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime, Nursery Rhymes, Humor, Animals

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Carolyn, Ur Local Carrot Stick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun take on the nursery rhyme. It's an easy-going read which inspires kids not to quit the first time things get hard. I could have used a little more fun 'Freaking Out' in the start of the book, but the illustrations are great and so is the friendship with Polly the Ladybug who helps Eensy Weensy overcome her fears one step at a time. This would be great for kids who are at the age of learning to ride a bike or swim or other activities which take time a resilience to learn.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this retelling of the Eensy Weensy Spider, the spider loses her confidence after being washed out of the waterspout. With the help of her ladybug friend, she finds a way to regain her confidence by taking on incremental challenges until she meet and even exceed her previous accomplishments. It's a nice reworking of the classic. Also, because it's Troy Cummings, readers that would normally scoff at a retelling of the Eensy Weensy Spider give it a chance. Thank you, Notebook of Doom!

[Mouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

My lil boy and I are big fans of Troy Cummings! We read all his Notebook of Doom books and other stuff too.
This is a good book about teaching kids to overcome their fears. It's a take on the ol eensy weensy spider

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE that halfway through it's THE END... but it's not ACTUALLY the end. =)

Other than that... the name of the book is the best part. Not overly funny which is a bummer after title that seems to imply otherwise.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different take on the Itsy Bitsy Spider. It is pretty funny and would work well for a pre-k storytime about spiders. You could start with a non-fiction book about spiders, sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and then read this book.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider gets washed out of the water spout and is scared to climb. Her friend ladybug encourages her to try to climb. So she does, and it's easy, so she climbs everything, taller and taller. At last, she climbs a rocket and it takes off into space, and she has the best view any spider has ever had.

[Olivia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. I think kids would like the twist on the familiar rhyme. Cute details, like eensy holding two cups of tea and a kettle cause she has so many hands. I also enjoyed when she climbed the dog. Would use for a facing your fears or bugs storytime. Would display.

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I think it would be great in a bug storytime, or in a storytime about overcoming fears.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute variation of the itsy bitsy spider

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about overcoming fears and getting back in the saddle after a set-back. It was cute that the spider was climbing higher before she even knew it. I was kind of worried at the end.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Connections: twist on Itsy-Bitsy Spider

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it would be fun to do a story time or two on what happens after the song was over or after the book was over. Probably best for older kids. I'll have to ponder.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overcoming fears

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet twist on the class rhyme that emphasizes friendship, bravery, and adventure. A nighttime storytime pick.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story isn't too bad. A good choice if you need something about overcoming fears, I suppose. I think kids will still enjoy the story. Pictures are fun. Worth a try in preschool storytime.

2/27/13 & 2/28/13: This went better than I thought. At least in the Wed. group. (2/3 through on Thu., I had a coughing fit--no surprise considering how bad this cold has been--and was basically gasping for air and in tears...sort of ruined the rest of the story with everyone worried about how I was doing.) Everyone laughed that she freaked out. The parents smiled that Eensy was getting over her fears and the kids seemed to like that, too. Wasn't an amazing "yes," but it fit in the "Uh-Oh" theme and was a good filler.

[carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Eensy Weensy Spider climbed up the waterspout . . . and everyone knows what happens next! By the time the sun comes out to dry up all the rain, the Eensy Weensy Spider has freaked out over her washout, big-time! "There's no way I'm climbing back up that gutter!" she says. Eensy has lost her climbing courage, but with the help of her best ladybug friend, Polly, she begins to take on bigger and bigger climbing challenges until she's rewarded with the most spectacular view of outer space that any bug has ever seen! Hilarious text and a retro, graphic art style take this popular nursery rhyme to new heights.

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Eensy Weensy Spider gets washed off the water spout, she is so shaken up that she never wants to climb again. But, with the encouragement of a friend, she finally decides to try climbing something small. Emboldened by the experience, she continues to climb higher and higher. This is a great story that teaches children that one failure isn't good reason to give up.

The story was fun, although the prose was sort of middling. I wasn't a big fan of the illustration style--but I did like the little hashed line paths and zoom-in bubbles that were used throughout. It was the story and message that won me over.

[Jess Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this creative retelling of the Eensy Weensy Spider, Eensy the Spider does get washed out, but then decides she is NEVER climbing again. She holes up inside until her ladybug friend comes and encourages her to try to climb again. She starts small (a flower pot) and eventually works her way up to something quite big! I love that part of the story is told through word bubbles (graphic novel style) and I love Eensy's personality and the humor. Great read aloud for preschool through early elementary kids.

[Jennie]

Age: 4-7

Genre: folktale/traditional tale

Diversity: ability

Illustrations: Simple fun and colorful. Some pages look like panels from a graphic novel.

Personal response: I enjoyed this updated and extended version of the classic nursery rhyme. The addition of a supportive friend for Eensy the spider and modern concepts like the "web" keep the story current.

Curriculum: This story could be used with a lesson on facing fears and trying to overcome them. It could also be used with a lesson on friendship and helping others.

[Romelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story started off fun and fresh, but it ended too soon with the problem being solved one-third of the way. So the ending for me was anticlimatic. Nevertheless, I love the humor and pun. Adore Eensy's determination. If it weren't for her friend Polly's wise words, "...Just start with something small and work your way up," Eensy probably wouldn't find the courage to climb again. Would've been nice to have Eensy solve her own problem, but the story does show the value of friends and that is okay too.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I have a signed copy.
* I read this aloud as a guest reader at my local library. The children had fun singing the song before the reading, and then were engaged as I read about Eensy's experiences after her near-drowning. The story demonstrates the importance of perseverance and risk taking in a gentle way. As with all of Cumming's illustrations, the images support the story and add greatly to the personality of the characters. Children will enjoy looking for small details.

Previously read on 12/22/2015.

[Sarah S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eensy thinks she's washed up after the incident with the water spount. Her buddy Polly helps her overcome her fear and become an even greater climber than before. This has a great message and fun illustrations, but for some reason, I found the first few pages off-putting. I don't think young readers will get the bit about having Eensy's washout splashed (sorry) all over the Internet, but Eensy won me over.

[Nielson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this adaptation of the familiar children's song, the eensy weensy spider does not go up the spout again! The slippery waterspout scared this spider, but with the help of her ladybug friend, Polly, Eensy scales much more than a waterspout. From flower pots to dogs to rockets, this spider learns that the stars are the limit. With expressive insects and a retro, cartoonish flair, these illustrations, along with the text, are sure to entertain and encourage.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

My four year old liked this book. He loves singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider song and loved seeing all the things the spider climbed. It is a story that encourages not giving up and letting what scares you stop you from doing what you like.

The spider climbs a water spout and falls during a rain storm. The spider is scared to climb anything else but a friend encourages her to climb again by starting small. Soon the spider is climbing everything in sight.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read during a Pre-K/Kindergarten After Care Class Visit on 10/23/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Pajama Story Time on 10/31/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Preschool Story Time on 9/20/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm biased but I think this is a fabulous book for kids AND their parents to enjoy. The writing is incredibly clever, and the artwork is fresh and retro at the same time. Troy Cummings' style reminded me of a Huckleberry Hound book I had as a kid. I just had to sign this book up! On Sale now at a store near YOU!

[Joenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story: "...out came the sun and dried up all the rain and the eensy weensy spider freaked out, big-time! There's no way I'm climbing back up that gutter!" she said. "If I had a neck, I could have broken it!"

The eensy weensy spider has to learn to climb again and not be afraid of heights.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute variation of the Eensy Weensy Spider. In this story, the spider freaks out after being washed down the spout and vows to never climb again. Luckily, her good friend ladybug gets her to try again, and soon she is conquering greater and greater heights. This one might be useful for talking about overcoming your fears.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just borrowed this from the library because Molly (2 yrs) loves the song, and I have to say, that Liam (4.5 yrs) LOVED IT! It starts off with the song, so right away he was hooked, but then the story teaches a great lesson about not getting frustrated and giving up! He can't wait to read it again!! (And neither can I!)