I'm Not Afraid of Spiders
By: Caitlin Henderson Illustrated by: Annie Henderson
Explore the world of spiders, their fascinating features and different shapes, colours and sizes.
I’m not afraid of spiders! + Full description
Come along on an exploration of the wonderful world of spiders. Discover how there's nothing to fear about these beautiful but often misunderstood animals. Meet spiders that jump, spiders that sparkle and spiders that look like twigs. Be amazed by their fascinating features and different shapes, colours and sizes.
Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.
- Short descriptionReviews
"The book celebrates the wonders of this commonly feared group of invertebrates through a delightfully rhyming story, complemented by detailed, bright and engaging illustrations. Spiders leap, roll, hang and hide across the pages, creating a strong sense of movement and energy. For curious minds who love asking questions, the back of the book offers more in-depth information and an extensive glossary."
Emma Nield, Books+Publishing, 28 April 2026
"Warm, informative and engaging, this is an excellent book for children who may feel nervous around spiders, as well as naturally curious readers eager to see these fascinating creatures in a whole new light."
Jane Stephens, Good Reading Magazine, July 2026
"With repetition of the title in each verse along with the clever inclusion of simple,accessible facts, young readers are able to acquire early scientific and practical information about spiders... I’m Not Afraid of Spiders is a fabulous read for early years students"
Kathryn Beilby, ReadPlus, 10 July 2026
"Told in verse and illustrated in bold closeup with expressive human reactions this is a book that aims to demystify spiders, lessen the fear they engender and generally to inform and entertain the young reader... A useful book for teachers and parents who want to share and explore the world of spiders with young children."
Mia Macrossan, Story Links, 9 July 2026
Details
Hardback | June 2026 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486318551 | 32 pages | 250 x 250 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour illustrations
ePDF | June 2026
ISBN: 9781486318568
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePUB | June 2026
ISBN: 9781486318575
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
Features
- Features beautiful illustrations of spiders from around the world, introducing some of our most amazing species.
- Explains why spiders look or behave the way they do, helping to address common fears.
- Written by award-winning wildlife photographer and spider expert Caitlin Henderson.
- Presents spiders in an accurate but non-threatening way.
- Includes a glossary and further in-depth information on spiders for curious children.
Contents
Main storyAll about spiders
Glossary
Illustrator's note
Authors
Caitlin Henderson is an award-winning wildlife photographer and writer who works with live spiders and other invertebrates. She tells stories of misunderstood wildlife online under the name She’s Got Legs Photography.
Annie Henderson is an illustrator with a love of nature and finding the beauty in even the smallest of creatures. Her passion for illustration began as a child, when she and her sister Caitlin would spend hours creating drawings of make-believe worlds.
For Teachers
We have created these Teacher Notes as a free PDF download to support the use of this book in the classroom.
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