Seaver the Weaver

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FEB 23, 2015

Inspired by the patterns he sees in the stars in the sky, a newborn orb spider named Seaver confounds his fellow arachnids by spinning triangular, square, and hexagonal webs, rather than round ones. Using repetition and understated humor, Czajak (the Monster and Me series) reveals that Seaver's innovations are about more than just artistic expression they also get results. "I'll try harder next time, but first I must tend to my guest," says Seaver, making his way toward a fly caught in his web; meanwhile, the other spiders' webs are "round, flawless, and empty." In illustrations dominated by mustard yellows and midnight blues, the Hilts (The Insomniacs) use overlapping, screenprintlike textures to suggest a loose, naturalistic setting. Most of Seaver's work takes place against a full moon that gently glows with crayony pink lines, and during the day, the other spiders cluster together on green ovoid leaves. Eventually, the other (very hungry) spiders recognize the value of Seaver's geometric experimentation, and, luckily for them, he isn't just creative, but magnanimous, too. It's a stylish and clever ode to the value of trying new things. Ages 2 6.