“Children are naturally fascinated by spiderwebs, and when they learn that these webs are clever traps made by small and skillful spiders that never had a single lesson, these structures become even more remarkable. My wish is that after reading this book, you and your child feel a sense of wonder the next time you see a spiderweb.”

Emily Morgan, author of Next Time You See a Spiderweb

The latest book in the Next Time You See series of NSTA Kids books, Next Time You See a Spiderweb will have even the most nervous of spider observers fascinated by the structures that spiders can create. The beautiful photography in the book reveals the many incredible shapes and sizes spun by different types of spiders.

Check out this video to get a sense of the innate skill that spiders possess to create the web traps they need to catch their prey. Using tangled webs, funnel-webs, and orb webs, spiders spin sticky silk without getting stuck themselves.

Author Emily Morgan is an educator who knows how to connect with children both intellectually and emotionally. Her Next Time You See series is intended to inspire children in grades K–6 to experience the enchantment of everyday phenomena.

Next Time You See a Spiderweb explains how spiders create the silk and spin it from their bodies. The strength and flexibility of spider silk intrigues scientists because the silk is stronger than a thread of steel and can stretch great lengths without breaking. Scientists are trying to mimic spider silk to create new materials that could help people improve their lives.

Engineers and architects also study the construction of spiderwebs to learn how most of a spiderweb can remain intact, even when a part of it is damaged. If they can learn how that works, they might be able to design structures that can hold up in an earthquake.

This is a book that children and adults will want to take along on their next nature walk. And the next time you see a spiderweb, remember that a small, skillful spider knows how to create something remarkable that people cannot, but wish they could.

Browse sample pages of this new book.

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