The Eensy-Weensy Spider
Adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard WestcottThe eensy-weensy spider climbs up the water spout, sings, swims, goes in a big parade, scrapes her knees(six of them), buys shoes, walks with a glow worm, and goes to sleep. She has adventures like those of a little girl living in a bug world. In eleven verses, the spider interacts with a number of bugs and a frog. There is dialogue in most of the verses, making the story challanging to sing. The pictures are bright and informative, but not very detailed.
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
written and illustrated by Iza TrapaniThe itsy-bitsy spider climbs up the waterspout, the kitchen wall, a yellow pail, a rocking chair, and finally a maple tree. Each time, something thwarts her, but when the something desists, she tries again. Finally at the top of the maple tree, she manages to build a web, and then she rests. In six verses, the spider interacts realistically with the world. In the story are included a mouse and a cat, and the narrator, who turns out to be a little girl. The plot is simple and repetitive, easy to sing. The pictures are detailed and show hints clearly linking each scene to the next.
My two year old brother loves both of these books. Most toddlers would.
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider is easier to memorize, so that you can read it in the dark/ have your toddler read to you. Its pictures are interesting the fiftieth time around.
The Eensy-Weensy Spider's extra verses make it less repetitve for multiple reading, and the familiar kiddie experiences make for good discussions (although I hope that your kid never has the eesy-weensy spider's experience of falling into a brook, you can still discuss forgetting to look). Better yet though, is reading both books.
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider illustrated by Rosemary Wells A goose watches a spider climb up the waterspout. On one side of the page are the weather and the words, and on the other side is the goose watching the spider through the song. Simple expressive pictures, and the goose gives us a character who feels the same interest and concern over the spider that we do.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Lorianne SiomadesThis is the only spider who actually goes up the inside of the waterspout. He takes with him a flashlight and an umbrella, but when the water washes him out, the umbrella and flashlight get swept away! Luckily, his friend the butterfly comes to his aid. The next time, knowing what to expect, he takes an inflatable horse.
Eensy Weensy Spider illustrated by Heather Collins A teddy bear watches as a coverall clad spider climbs from his web, up into a waterspout.The rain comes and washes the spider out, destroying the spider's web. He dries himself off with the bear's hanky, and when it's dry, he climbs up the spout again. This is a lot like Rosemary Wells' version.
Melodic reading.
