Just Itzy

On his first day of "spindergarten," spider Itzy wants everyone to recognize how grown-up he is; step one is losing the babyish nickname "Itzy Bitzy." Hoping to prove himself at school, Itzy finds himself in challenging situations readers will recognize from nursery rhymes--but his notorious climb up the waterspout brings things to a climax. Bright cartoon illustrations expand the text with witty details and visual drama.

Ready to embark on his first day of "spindergarten," young spider Itzy wants everyone to recognize how much more grown-up he is, and step one will be to lose the babyish nickname Itzy Bitzy. Unfortunately, neither Mom nor big brother Gutzy seems ready to make that transition, so Itzy sets off -- deliberately leaving raincoat and lunch (peanut butter and honeybee sandwich) behind -- to prove himself at school and catch his own lunch as the big spiders do. Bright cartoon illustrations in spring colors done in pencil, India ink, Plaka paint, and Photoshop expand the text with witty details and visual drama. Both art and story contain humor for adults as well as children, allowing for layered readings. When spindergarten class focuses on learning how to choose a good web location, Itzy finds himself in challenging situations that readers will recognize from favorite traditional nursery rhymes. "Little Miss Muffet" and "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" are cleverly integrated into the plot until Itzy's notorious climb up the waterspout really brings things to a climax. On that trip he rescues Gutzy and manages to catch some lunch, rising above that nickname at last in this amusing take on starting school and gaining independence. julie roach