When Spider Met Shrew

The power of friendship is explored in the wholesome and heartfelt read, When Spider Met Shrew. When a newly built road forces a shrew to lose his home, he teams up with a spider to seek a new one. On their journey, they meet a whole host of other animals, each with their own problem, such as being too wet (a bat), feeling scared without their mother (a possum), or experiencing sadness after her puppies have moved away (a dog). Yet, each animal helps the others in their best and most effortful capacity, and all appear to be noticeably happy together despite their difficulties. Finally, a pony takes the whole crew under their wing, and they embark on a quest to find lunch together.

Although When Spider Met Shrew is a quick read, the text propels the reader along to a satisfying conclusion. Most of the action happens through dialogue between the characters. In the post-Covid era, it is even more crucial to emphasize the theme inherent in this book; that is, the importance of meaningful friendships. In addition, it is especially refreshing when children's titles feature atypical animals, such as the shrew, as a main character. The illustrations are simple yet effectively show character expressions and movement through the various scenes. Drawn in pencil and shaded with various greys, greens, and browns, the images are true to nature's tones. Highly recommended for all children's collections.