Howitt, M. (2002). The spider and the fly. New York: Scholastic Inc.
 

The spider and the fly picture book is based on the poem written by Mary Howitt in 1829. The Caldecott honor book was illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi. This dark spooky poem creates the mood of uneasiness because of the dialogue between the spider and the fly, and the illustrations. The poet uses rhyme to tell the story of a spider who diligently tries to entice the female fly to come into his parlor.  The entire book is illustrated in black and white. The illustrator magnificently used shading to create the grim gloomy scene of the setting which is inside a large mansion under a dark foggy night sky. 
The words in the story are written in white over the black pages. The illustrator uses double spread on some of the pages. Some of pages are also framed by what looks like a picture frame with flies on the four corners. The visual elements that help set the mood was not only the darkness depicted but the spider web used behind the white words in the center of the pages that were framed.
While wearing a tuxedo the strange, eerie spider approaches the female fly on the street to invite her to his parlor. He tries to lure her by making the parlor seem like it is the most wonderful place to be in the world. At their first meeting the reader feels off put by the spider's scary daunting approach. At this point the fly seems pretty with it and doesn't seem gullible enough to fall for the spiders advancements. She even mentions that if she goes into the parlor she will never come out. The spider continues to beg and the fly seems to avoid what she earlier mentioned would be her end. 
 The spider's character is able to trick the fly by complimenting her looks. At first she didn't seem gullible but by the end the antagonist makes her look like a fool. The illustrator used a tomb stone to teach the reader that one must not listen to evil people. I think there are other themes present such as don't be vain. The fly falls into the spider's trap when his compliments go to her head. This book seems like it could spook a timid reader. It left me with an eerie feeling. The illustrations of Diterlizzi complimented the poets words to help create this dismal scene.


Big Idea Questions: Why does the tomb stone say,  "Unto an evil counselor, close heart and ear and eye?" 
Why would one need to follow this advice?