The Weaver

by Qian Shi, Qian Shi (Illustrator)

Overview

Stanley is a spider, a weaver and a collector. On his web he collects seeds, twigs, leaves and all kinds of precious things he cannot name. Stanley is very proud of his collection, but what can one tiny spider do when it is washed away? In this stunning, deceptively simple and thoughtful debut from animator, illustrator and writer Qian Shi we discover the difference between what you collect in the world and what you collect in your heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541514546
Publisher:	Andersen Press USA
Publication date:	04/01/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 9 Years

About the Author

Qian ("Chen") Shi grew up in Shijiazhuang, a northern city in China. She has always been drawn to stories and loved making pictures. She now lives with her husband, Callum, in East London.

Qian ("Chen") Shi grew up in Shijiazhuang, a northern city in China. She has always been drawn to stories and loved making pictures. She now lives with her husband, Callum, in East London.

Editorial Reviews

"A spider learns about the beauty of impermanence when his world is disrupted by the forces of nature. Stanley, an arachnid who is also a collector of 'seeds, / twigs, leaves... // and all kinds of precious things he cannot name,' has blown in on the wind and found the perfect home for a delightful collection of items. But when the rain and wind take apart the web he's woven to keep his things, he struggles to save his last leaf. In the end, he's left with nothing but a sad spider cry. 'Stanley has lost everything. Hasn't he?' Industrious spider that he is, Stanley weaves a web re-creating the objects he lost just before he takes off again with the wind, leaving even his new creation behind. As a study in the graceful way to handle loss, Stanley's story carries a surprising amount of emotional heft, especially considering he is a black puffball with stick legs (all right, the big, cute eyes help). Animator Shi's illustrations are subtle, with gradient color backgrounds and a clever sense of motion, particularly in an opening spread showing spiders hitching rides on a gust of air. Stanley's story is beautiful and wise, and even if it means a very sad few moments as he collects himself, it's worth experiencing for younger readers, who may learn to rebuild and move on instead of mourning the next toy they lose. (Picture book. 4-9)"—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher