Black Widow Spiders

The best parts of this book are the first-rate close-up photography and the bold-type vocabulary builders. While technically weak/simplistic, the information provided is accurate. If there's any serious shortcoming, it's in not emphasizing the danger these creatures pose for small, curious children. Gram-for-gram, black widow venom is more toxic than rattlesnake venom, and the black widow aggressively attacks any perceived threat, such as a child poking a web--especially if the widow is guarding an egg sack. The book also fails to mention that immature black widow spiders aren't black with red hourglass, but are nonetheless competently toxic.