The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery

Bibliography:
Montgomery, S. 2004. THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST. Ill. by Nic Bishop. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0618147993.

Plot Summary:
THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST follows the story of Arachnologist Sam Marshall while he studies the habits of the Goliath Birdeater tarantula in the rainforests of French Guiana in South America. The book follows his adventure as he uses the scientific method to answer questions about tarantulas while known information about their lifestyles is presented such as how they shed their exoskeletons, protect themselves from predators, line their caves in silk, and the color of their blood. The book also shows Marshall’s lab where he has over 500 types of tarantulas and students who also want to explore the world of spiders. Beautiful, detailed photographs from Nic Bishop accentuate the text. The book contains spider statistics, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.

Critical Analysis:
Author Sy Montgomery presents the information in a clear, engaging manner that keeps the reader interested. The chapters are separated by informational sections about habits of tarantulas and how they are similar and different from other spiders. The 80 pages of text reveal the excitement that Marshall feels studying these spiders. That combined with the straightforward fact presentation helps remove the fear of these animals to replace it with curiosity. The style of writing helps the reader imagine the entire exploration.

Not only does Montgomery write about tarantulas, she also writes about how Marshall became interested in spiders, his interest in other animals, what he studies and why, how other students became interested, what tools are used, and other information about the study of spiders. The text is accompanied by photographs from Nic Bishop.

Bishop’s photographs are invaluable to the text because the vivid, detailed pictures help the viewer get close to the tarantulas to see the details unique to the species. He shows them up close, as they jump, spin webs, shed their exoskeleton, and exit from their burrow. The photos are rich in detail and help the reader gain a deeper understanding of spiders. Some photos fill entire pages to increase the visual impact. The captions provide extra information about the image that is different from the text. The use of verbal and visual access points are helpful in allowing the reader to use the text in a multitude of ways.

The text is presented in manageable chapters that are broken up by the informational sections. The arrangement of the book allows readers to jump around because the information sections are bordered in orange and the photos and captions stand alone. Overall this is an intriguing book, both textually and visually, that helps readers gain an insight into tarantulas in a meaningful way.

Awards:
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2005

Reviews:
BOOKLIST: “Montgomery and Bishop, who worked together on Snake Scientist (1999), team up once again to deliver another fascinating slice of the natural world. Enthusiasm for the subject and respect for both Marshall and his eight-legged subjects come through on every page of the clear, informative, and even occasionally humorous text. Bishop's full-color photos, which concentrate on detail, not scale, are amazing--Marshall coaxing an elusive tarantula into the open or bringing readers literally face-to-face with a hairy spider.”

THE BULLETING OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS, STARRED: “Bishop’s photographs rise magnificently to the challenge of capturing earth-toned spiders amid earth-toned jungle surroundings, bringing the critters up-close and personal and offering a few of his trademark astonishing stop-action shots…This would liven up a science curriculum no end, and it might also convince young readers to go beyond the elemental pleasures of ‘Ew, gross’ to the more sophisticated appreciation of ‘Wow, cool.”

THE FIVE OWLS, STARRED: “This beautifully photographed book explains just about everything an elementary school student might want to know about this often misunderstood and maligned creature.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS, STARRED: “Montgomery has a gift for scene-setting…She deftly weaves clear explanations and comparison into the main text…Bishop’s phenomenal photos show spiders mating, shedding their skin, even leaping through the air. It’s enough to make Miss Muffet fall in love.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED: “…this is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work, both in the field and in the lab, questioning, examining, testing, and making connections. A treat, even for arachnophobes.”

Connections:
-Invite a local arachnologist or animal expert to come speak to the class about tarantulas. The students can ask questions and the speaker may be able to bring actual spiders into the classroom. If this is not possible a visit to a local zoo could act as a replacement activity.
-Adopt a tarantula for students to observe over an extended period of time. The can connect the information from the book to the spider. Only do this if you are committed to a long term pet or study.
-Other books about tarantulas: TARANTULA KEEPER’S GUIDE by Stanley A. Schultz; TARANTULAS AND OTHER ARACHNIDS by Samuel Marshall
-Continue reading books in the series SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD. The series covers topics such as snakes, bugs, whales, hammerhead sharks, bird dinosaurs, tree kangaroos, wolves, and more.