Stories from the natural world

"Infused with respect for mushrooms and the woods where they grow — 'Take your time, and give your attention' — the account supplies as vivid a sense of the work of hunting as it does in describing the discoveries."

"Quietly contemplative text and delightful illustrations bring this expedition to life… Informative and engaging, this tale is sure to have kids eagerly taking to the outdoors in search of mushrooms — and more. Downright delicious."

Captures "atmospheric textures, colors, shapes, and aromas" through a simple narrative structure that presents forest information with warmth and wonder.

"Weaver is never visually anthropomorphized, with all eight eyes and mandibles depicted in close-ups. This has the effect of heightening the astonishing achievement of this very nonhuman engineer...She's a brown-and-black figure in a mostly grayscale world; she perceives it most keenly through her web, which vibrates in prismatic color when a fly lands in it. Altogether, a beguiling peek at and appreciation of one of nature's everyday wonders."

"A spotted orbweaver spider's nightly routine unfurls in Baker and Eggenschwiler's pleasingly perceptive, arachnology-guided tale. Text and art take the arachnid's perspective, with finely wrought opening grayscale artwork conveying hairy brown Weaver's low-vision experience of the world...Weaver's instinct-led exploits make for riveting reading."

"A garden spider builds her web with artistry and instinct—until an unexpected encounter reminds her just how small she is in a very large world....An exceptional pairing of text and art that will reward arachnophobes, spider lovers, and the generally curious."