by Michelle Hand for TWU Course Literature for Children and Young Adults
Montgomery, Sy and Nic Bishop (Photographer). 2004. THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST (SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD SERIES). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780618915774.
This is an informational book about Sam Marshall, spider scientist, as he explores the rainforest of French Guiana searching for tarantulas, studying their behaviors and habitats.
Critical Analysis
In TARANTULA SCIENTIST, Sy Montgomery takes the reader into the world of Sam Marshall and his South American exploration of finding and studying the largest spider in the world, the Goliath birdeater tarantula. Photographer Nic Bishop uses magnificent macro
photography to bring to life Marshall's quest. Even if the reader is scared of spiders, the photographs and other visual aids pull the reader into the fascinating world of tarantulas' physical characteristics such as yellow blood, silk of steel and skeletons on the outside as well as their unusual defense mechanism behavior, mating rituals and sense of community.
Montgomery ensures, through Marshall and his research, that all information is accurate and sources are cited in the back of the book. Montgomery and Marshall also use clear wording to differentiate facts from theory such as giving an hypothesis about how tarantulas make a hissing noise then taking the reader step by step on testing that hypothesis to either prove it wrong or right.
THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST'S is organized and categorized to where a reader can start learning about Marshall's exploration and tarantulas on any given page. A table of contents assist readers with topics but the illustrations and photographs can be viewed separate from the text and still be understood. The extraordinary photographs of several different species of tarantulas and also wolf spiders and scorpions draw the reader in starting with the
cover and on every page in between. All visual aids are kid friendly with understandable captions. These visual aids are what holds a young reader's attention. According to a nine
year old, some of the vocabulary and text is hard to underst and without the guidance from an adult. With assistance, this book engages the young reader and draws he or she into the world of tarantulas with an awe of just how complex they are leaves the reader wanting to know when Montgomery will team up with Marshall and Bishop again to teach us more about these wonderful creatures.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Informative, yes, but even more important, this is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work, both in the field and in the lab, questioning, examining, testing, and making connections. A treat, even for arachnophobes." - Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
"Readers will come away armed with facts about spiders in general and tarantulas in
particular, but even more important, they'll have a clear understanding of how
the answers derived from research become the roots of new, intriguing questions." Stephanie Zvirin - Booklist
"Montgomery has a gift for scene-setting [and] deftly weaves clear explanations into the main text. Bishop's phenomenal photos show spiders mating, shedding their skin, even leaping through the air. It's enough to make Miss Muffet fall in love." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
2005 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award
2004 School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year
Connections
-Have the students research different types of spiders and describe their habitat, diet and anatomy.
-Have the students research different creatures that live in the rainforest.
-Not all tarantulas live in rainforests. Have the students research different types of tarantulas and their habitats.
-Some people have tarantulas as pets. Have students research and report on the pros and cons of owning a tarantula.
Connections from “Teacher's Resources,” Houghton Mifflin, accessed March 25, 2013,
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/librarians/teacher.shtml.
Other informational books about spiders or written by Sy Montgomery for young adults.
Montgomery, Sy. THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF SUNDARBANS. ISBN: 0618494901
Levi, Herbert W and Lorna R. SPIDERS AND THEIR KIN. ISBN: 9781582381565
Facklam, Margery. SPIDERS AND THEIR WEB SITES. ISBN: 9780316273299
Craighead Geroge, Jean. THE
TARANTULA IN MY PURSE AND 172 OTHER WILD PETS. ISBN:
9780618062713
This is an informational book about Sam Marshall, spider scientist, as he explores the rainforest of French Guiana searching for tarantulas, studying their behaviors and habitats.
Critical Analysis
In TARANTULA SCIENTIST, Sy Montgomery takes the reader into the world of Sam Marshall and his South American exploration of finding and studying the largest spider in the world, the Goliath birdeater tarantula. Photographer Nic Bishop uses magnificent macro
photography to bring to life Marshall's quest. Even if the reader is scared of spiders, the photographs and other visual aids pull the reader into the fascinating world of tarantulas' physical characteristics such as yellow blood, silk of steel and skeletons on the outside as well as their unusual defense mechanism behavior, mating rituals and sense of community.
Montgomery ensures, through Marshall and his research, that all information is accurate and sources are cited in the back of the book. Montgomery and Marshall also use clear wording to differentiate facts from theory such as giving an hypothesis about how tarantulas make a hissing noise then taking the reader step by step on testing that hypothesis to either prove it wrong or right.
THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST'S is organized and categorized to where a reader can start learning about Marshall's exploration and tarantulas on any given page. A table of contents assist readers with topics but the illustrations and photographs can be viewed separate from the text and still be understood. The extraordinary photographs of several different species of tarantulas and also wolf spiders and scorpions draw the reader in starting with the
cover and on every page in between. All visual aids are kid friendly with understandable captions. These visual aids are what holds a young reader's attention. According to a nine
year old, some of the vocabulary and text is hard to underst and without the guidance from an adult. With assistance, this book engages the young reader and draws he or she into the world of tarantulas with an awe of just how complex they are leaves the reader wanting to know when Montgomery will team up with Marshall and Bishop again to teach us more about these wonderful creatures.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Informative, yes, but even more important, this is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work, both in the field and in the lab, questioning, examining, testing, and making connections. A treat, even for arachnophobes." - Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
"Readers will come away armed with facts about spiders in general and tarantulas in
particular, but even more important, they'll have a clear understanding of how
the answers derived from research become the roots of new, intriguing questions." Stephanie Zvirin - Booklist
"Montgomery has a gift for scene-setting [and] deftly weaves clear explanations into the main text. Bishop's phenomenal photos show spiders mating, shedding their skin, even leaping through the air. It's enough to make Miss Muffet fall in love." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
2005 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award
2004 School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year
Connections
-Have the students research different types of spiders and describe their habitat, diet and anatomy.
-Have the students research different creatures that live in the rainforest.
-Not all tarantulas live in rainforests. Have the students research different types of tarantulas and their habitats.
-Some people have tarantulas as pets. Have students research and report on the pros and cons of owning a tarantula.
Connections from “Teacher's Resources,” Houghton Mifflin, accessed March 25, 2013,
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/librarians/teacher.shtml.
Other informational books about spiders or written by Sy Montgomery for young adults.
Montgomery, Sy. THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF SUNDARBANS. ISBN: 0618494901
Levi, Herbert W and Lorna R. SPIDERS AND THEIR KIN. ISBN: 9781582381565
Facklam, Margery. SPIDERS AND THEIR WEB SITES. ISBN: 9780316273299
Craighead Geroge, Jean. THE
TARANTULA IN MY PURSE AND 172 OTHER WILD PETS. ISBN:
9780618062713
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