Gregory the Spider: Romping through the Year is an enchanting children’s picture book written by Cynthia Dreeman
Meyer and illustrated by Marina Saumell. Gregory the spider takes young readers
on a pictorial romp through the year, with significant dates and days of
celebration cleverly woven into the full page, full colour illustrations.
Gregory invites young readers to follow him as he turns the first page in a
lovely adventure of seasonal fun. His friends, Max and Molly Mouse, take part
in each month’s romp, and Gregory features significantly, often getting into
the spirit of things by wearing a costume or hat. Through sunshine, rain, wind,
snow, and ice, Gregory shows youngsters the seasons and significant holidays,
special days, or moments in the calendar.
First, the illustrations are
absolutely adorable and detailed. Readers will definitely spend some time
poring over the images and making discoveries. The images are also deceptively
simple because, as youngsters read with an adult, they can be encouraged to
spot the clues hidden in each picture to indicate the name of the month and
other fun features that make the month special. A check list at the end of the
book will help young sleuths. The author invites readers to investigate further
on her website for a full list of items to find in each picture, and their
significance. However, it will be good for parents or teachers to let young readers
try for themselves to find the important items and to guess the significance of
each month.
The story itself is told quite
simply, and possibly because not much wording is needed. The illustrations have
a kind of energy that “romps” along as well as one turns the pages. Gregory is
a surprise main character because spiders don’t usually end up in the
spotlight. Gregory is a delightful “narrator” with his antics, his appropriate
costumes, and his expressive eyes! The lovely cover promises a treasure trove
of interesting details inside and young readers will not be disappointed. A
lovely storybook to share with family members, or as a gift to a young reader,
a book that will be read over and over again!
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