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Book Review: The Spider Who Saved Christmas, By Raymond Arroyo
Best-selling author Raymond Arroyo retells a folktale in his picture book titled: The Spider Who Saved Christmas. The book is illustrated by Randy Gallegos. Many may be familiar with this Eastern European story about a spider who protected the Christ Child during the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, but I am not one of them. So as I read the book I could imagine the way a child would be surprised and delighted with each twist and turn (which is the hallmark of good storytelling).
The picture book is beautiful. I like the way Randy Gallegos illustrates the tale with realistic artwork. Because folktales tend to be more fancy than fact, the choice of illustrating the book using art rather than cartoons works well to convey to children this family was real.
The book begins with the flight of the Holy Family. They enter a cave where Nephila (the spider) is weaving a web to protect her own laid eggs from the danger they face from the many elements of nature. Nephila understands this human family is trying to help their son survive King Herod's attack. The fast-paced action enhances the feeling of danger faced by Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Herod's soldiers are closing in on the Holy Family as they seek safety. Nephila (of the Golden Silk Orb Weavers class of spiders) sympathizes with them and decides to use her skills to make a giant web to protect them from the soldiers. I won't tell you more details so as not to spoil the wonderful climax!
Folk tales are wonderful and timeless, and this book offers prose which utilizes all five senses, and repeats a theme of “all is here for a reason.”
Nephila offers her beautiful golden web to the Christ Child. The tie-in to the tinsel we hang today on our Christmas trees gives added meaning to a beloved Christmas tradition.
I like how Arroyo writes the dramatic events from the spider's perspective. This technique works well because we relate to Jesus based on our own perspectives too.
Reading books to children offers a great deal of educational benefits, but the key to a good book is a great story plus enticing illustrations, both which The Spider Who Saved Christmas delivers. This book demonstrates to children the usefulness of God's creation of spiders. The gift of the spider's web shows how God provides for us what we need through ordinary means.
I think this book's appeal is wide: for parents and grandparents to read to younger children, and for older children to read to themselves. The vocabulary words contained in the book are appropriate for upper elementary readers--advanced fourth grade to sixth grade. Therefore this book is ideal for an older child, which is important because this age group still loves picture books but needs something a bit more challenging. As well, the cross subjects of science (facts about the spider), history (King Herod, Jesus) and literature (folktale subset) strengthen the educational value of this religious book.
Christmas books are wonderful reads, year-after-year. The Spider Who Saved Christmas will become a favorite for many children.
The Spider Who Saved Christmas
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About the Author
A long time ago I thought I was a writer. Because my parents were practical, I went into teaching. About eight years ago, I began to write again. So here I am.
I hold a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University (University Park). I enjoy gardening, reading, Pittsburgh sports, and cooking, but not in that order. My regular job is being a wife and mother.
