SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

February 16, 2015 by Betsy Bird

2015: The Year of the Spiders and the Flies

February 16, 2015 by Betsy Bird   3 comments

Let’s face facts.  When doing a trendwatch piece, it’s almost impossible to top Travis Jonker’s 2014 bit of brilliance 2014: The Year of the Whale. Prior to that piece I had done The Year of the Chloe, The Year of the Jackalope, and The Year of the Raven.  And now, in 2015, I’m calling it early.  And rather than limit it to a single creepy crawly, I am opening my heart to those eternal enemies, the spiders and the flies.  They seem unexpectedly prevalent and it’s only February!  How can I be so sure that they’re the insects and arachnids to watch in 2015?  Consider the evidence:

The Year of the Fly

I, Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are by Bridget Heos. Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

It’s little wonder that nonfiction flystuffs should abound.  Last year Elise Gravel’s The Fly was the one to watch.  This year, Heos and Plecas give us a bit of sympathy for those members of the family Muscidae.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Fly! by Karl Newsom Edwards

Stand aside, Fly Guy.  There’s a new crop of characters in town and they are sometimes awfully cute.  Truth be told you won’t find a more adorable little cutie than this fellow.  Told in very simple text, it’s one of those books about finding out where your talents lie, yet it manages the moral without moralizing (no small feat).  Plus how do you resist that face?  Awwwww.

Astrid the Fly by Maria Jonsson

Astrid’s a Swedish import, and you wouldn’t really know it from the text.  She too is rather adorable, though you cannot help but shudder in horror when you see how many brothers and sisters she has.  Extra points for making her such a fan of Danish salami.

The Fly by Petr Horacek

You heard it here first folks – This is the best readaloud picture book of 2015.  I kid you not, it’s brilliant.  Reminding me not a little of Jim Aylesworth’s classic Old Black Fly, Horacek uses his trademark thick flaps to give a not AT ALL cute fly (it’s all in the eyes, man) a distinct point of view.  Anyone performing a storytime is going to get a huge kick out of the final THWAP as you close the book on the flying pest.

Super Fly: The World’s Smallest Superhero! by Todd H. Doodler

A show of hands.  Who here does NOT hear that classic 1972 Curtis Mayfield song whenever you read this title?  Because if not, I envy you.  Doodler abandons bears and their undergarments for the Kirkus starred early chapter book.  I like that it clarifies the true enemy of the fly: the cockroach.  And I think if it came down to the two of them, give me a housefly any day of the week.

The Year of the Spider

Just Itzy by Lana Krumwiede. Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli.

That’s one thing the flies never had going for them: catchy nursery rhymes (notable exception: “Shoo Fly, Don’t Bother Me”). Last year the old Itsy Bitsy Spider song inspired Dosh Archer’s Urgency Emergency: Itsy Bitsy Spider.  This year it, alongside 2-3 other spider related nursery rhymes (there’s an abundance of them), has inspired Just Itzy.  Itzy is sick to death of his nickname (he could do without the “Bitzy”). He then proceeds to change his fate and his name.  Pizzoli is in his element.

Seaver the Weaver by Paul Czajak. Illustrated by The Brothers Hilts

Ever heard of the publisher Mighty Media Kids?  Well, if this book is any indication they might be one to watch.  The Brothers Hilts did that lovely little book The Insomniacs a couple years ago and then were never heard from again.  This book, about a spider that thinks outside the web, makes good use of their skills. Particularly the parts where Seaver must attend to this “guest”.

I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

I collect funny women and Bethany Barton has recently shot up to the top of my list.  Known best at this point for her Monster books (This Monster Needs a Haircut & This Monster Cannot Wait), this latest title pairs nicely with the Petr Horacek fly title since there are a LOT of smushed up spiders between the pages.

Now lest you think such trends are restricted solely to the realm of the picture book, you are sadly mistaken.  At least in the case of spiders, the middle grade fiction titles are active and aware:

The Spider Ring by Andrew Harwell

There’s a bit of wish fulfillment at work in this one.  I mean, what bullied kid could receive a ring that helps them control spiders and NOT sick ’em on the classmate that makes their life a misery?  Creepy and crawly all at once.

Ferals by Jacob Grey

I mentioned this one in a recent Harper Collins preview.  The villain of this piece is named The Spinning Man.  If you suffer from arachnophobia, I’d steer clear of this one for a time.

Any others you’ve seen?  They have to be pubbed in 2015.  I’d say we’re off to a good start thus far too.

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Trend Alerttrendwatchweirdo trends

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

The Top Ten Most Disappointing Edibles and Potables of Children's Literature

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Announcing the 2023 Newbery/Caldecott/YMA Pre-Game Show!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

U.S. Gov: ‘All Books Must Have Round Corners’

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know. Read What You Don’t, a guest post by Lauren Thoman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Hippity Hoppity Easter's On Its Way! 7 Board & Picture Books Starring the Easter Bunny

4 Middle Grade & YA Nonfiction Titles to Help Heal the World

13 Hi-Lo Titles, Including Speculative Fiction, Horror, Sports, and Graphic Novels

2 Middle Grade Novels That Explore Climate Change in Different Ways

“Learn About” These Early Childhood Nonfiction Series

SPONSORED

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scope Notes says

    February 16, 2015 at 7:01 am

    Oh, man – you called it. A few spider related titles to add:
    Little Spider’s Spectacular Adventures by John Miller
    The Spider by Elise Gravel
    Stitch Head: The Spider’s Lair by Guy Bass
    The Not So Itty Bitty Spiders by Amy Marie Stadelmann

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      February 16, 2015 at 2:00 pm

      Nice additions! The Gravel I knew but the others are new.

  2. Carter Higgins says

    February 18, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Holy cow. Nice!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023