I'm Trying to Love Spiders is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
"I'm Trying to Love Spiders" by Bethany Barton is a humorous and informative picture book that takes readers on a journey of overcoming fears and misconceptions about spiders. The story follows a young girl who, despite her initial apprehensions, is determined to learn to love spiders. Through engaging and funny illustrations, the book highlights various spider facts and behaviors, debunking common myths and showcasing the important role spiders play in the ecosystem. The girl's gradual acceptance and growing fascination with spiders is portrayed in a relatable and lighthearted way, encouraging readers to challenge their own preconceived notions. With its playful tone and interactive elements, such as spider-themed jokes and spider identification charts, the book educates and entertains readers of all ages. Ultimately, "I'm Trying to Love Spiders" promotes empathy, curiosity, and appreciation for the natural world, inspiring readers to give spiders a chance and find beauty in unexpected places.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Have students practice their questioning skills as you read the book.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Have students identify the point of view and discuss the benefits of the narrator.
- Teach students how contractions are used.
- Introduce or review how and why author’s use ellipses.
- Use this book to discuss a variety of emotions with students and how to manage them.
- Teach students about the importance of having a growth mindset using examples from the book.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin
- Anansi the Spider by Gerald Mcdermott
- The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt and Tony Diterlizzi
- The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
