An Interview with Harry the Tarantula

by Leigh Ann Tyson, Henrik Drescher (Illustrator)

An Interview with Harry the Tarantula (HC)

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story that makes a tarantula (almost) lovable. It tells all about them by conducting an interview and telling a story, rather than being too much like an encyclopedia. .

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to inform kids bout the life of a tarantula and funny

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk-show host Katy Did interviews Harry the Tarantula, and learns more than she expected as Harry reveals some interesting facts about him and his species.

[Kittiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara loves to go to the pet store to check out the tarantula. So when we found this at the library it was a must to check out. I like how it is very informational. But! and this is kind of a big but, There is a part about how the reproduce bring up a sperm sac. Sara had so many questions about that. Which is normally fine, but not at bedtime. I wasn't exspecting that. Well next time I know to read new books before hand. We both really like a page at the end of the book where It gives lots of interesting facts. All in all We both like this book. It is on her re-read list every night.

[Sara Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty amusing and informative for those interested in tarantulas. And it is true that one cannot HELP but to impart Katy Did, the interviewer, with a British accent. Why is that? THEN you get almost to the end and Harry starts getting a little fresh, with all that talk of transferring "my web sack of sperm to her" and being very careful to "tap her in all the right places" because, of course, "Tapping puts her in a romantic mood." TMI, Harry, TMI! Whatever... I was entertained.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in an interview form between a katydid and a tarantula. I'm using it for my Spider Tales program. I have to figure out how to "edit" the last part of the interview when Harry talks about transferring his web sack of sperm to a female; talk about awkward! I'm picturing what sort of questions the 4-5 year olds will ask prompted by that statement!

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

National Geographic comes up with a very clever way to make learning about bugs (tarantulas in this case) pretty fun. The format is a radio host bug interviewing Harry about his recent terrifying experience of being put in a glass jar by a little girl.

Really engaging and educational illustrations.

[Stephanie Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was cute and informative, I will be leaving it out of my 4th grade library. It was suggested by the publisher of our English language arts publisher. I'm afraid the sperm sac page would completely derail any other learning possibilities.

[Christian]

spiders are cool

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, though I may have to omit the "sack of sperm" page if I use this in a preschool story time. I keep imagining Katy Did's voice with a British accent.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

May be good for discussing interviews or to use as the fiction book for a fiction vs. non-fiction discussion

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: Harry the Tarantula does answer a question about tarantula reproduction in this book. The facts in the back are quite interesting.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, and a good book for kids that have a fear of spiders.

[Drusilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to pair with a nonfiction book about spiders for second grade.

[Indea]

this book is great

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The NPR lover in me really appreciated the style of book! Instead of teaching about a tarantula with a traditional expository book, kids learn about them via a public radio interview with host Katy Did!