THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST by Sy Montgomery

Montgomery, Sy. The Tarantula Scientist. Ill. by Nic Bishop. 2004. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618147993

Attention all who are scared or indifferent to spiders, animals, and science in general.  I recommend you try The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery with photos by Nic Bishop.   This dynamic duo has collaborated on several projects any researcher would sacrifice their lap top to experience.   This expedition is no exception.   Nic Bishop's camera lens takes us up close and personal with the hairy scary creatures we call tarantulas.  Sy Montgomery conjures a documentary brew with generous amounts of 'interesting,' 'funny,' 'creepy,' 'gross,' 'weird,' and a dash of 'unbelievable!'   The result is most satisfying.  School Library Journal claims it "a treat even for arachnophobes."

This photo essay is recorded in 80 pages of magnificent color.  The bulk of the photos are from the rainforest expedition in French Guiana.  The study focused on the Goliath bird eater tarantula, a spider big enough to cover your whole face.  But for an animal that big, it is surprisingly understudied.  Sam Marshall is the scientist we follow through the rainforest and into his lab at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio.  His mission is to learn as much as possible about these creatures he loves so much and re-educate the public about these gentle, shy, and non-threatening arachnids.  Quoting Marshall, “They are just really interesting, beautiful animals, not horrible creatures.”

Being one of only four scientists of his kind, Marshall pretty much wrote the book on tarantulas, literally.  Two out of three books in the selected bibliography were written by him.  Other helpful access features include an extensive glossary cleverly disguised as "Spider Speak," a list of web sites for more spider information, and an index.  Each caption to the brilliant photos has interesting, brief, and relevant information.  There are well defined chapters and clear subheadings throughout, but no table of contents.  A large map of French Guiana follows the title page. 

Classrooms will be crawling with projects ignited by this book!  October is the perfect month to frolic in the plethora of Halloweenish genre and uncover the real truth about these misunderstood creatures.  I can just see Team Hagrid (spider lovers) and Team Weasley (arachnophobes) facing off with spider stories, spider art, spider video, spider costumes, spider food, spider facts, and any number of other spin offs. 

This Sibert Honor Book was also chosen as an ALA Notable Book, a Kirkus Editors Choice, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, to name just a few of its credentials.  With a book so beautiful, scientific, and entertaining, you might agree with the Kirkus review, “It’s enough to make Miss Muffet fall in love.”