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Seaver the Weaver
Seaver is an orb spider with a sky full of inspiration. His siblings prefer tradition and aren’t afraid to let him know. But Seaver doesn’t mind! He loves his new shapes and isn’t afraid to stand out. Told with quiet charm, this picture book tangles readers in a web of delight.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 1, 2015
THIS BOOK LIES!
Wait, wait. Let me state a boring thing first: I like spiders and I have a super special soft spot in my heart for orb weavers, so much so that when I find them, I make them my pets and I feed them stunned houseflies. I seriously love them.
Back to the LIES!
I just want you all to know that spiders do not catch bugs based on the individuality of their webs. It's not like some webs look more fancy and so the moths fly into those ones. Spiders catch bugs based on where they put their webs and how strongly those webs are woven. The smartest orb weavers put their webs in stinky bushes, near water, and above porch lights because that's where the most bugs congregate.
In this story, however, Seaver is an orb weaver...maybe a No-Face orb weaver?...who is inspired by the night sky to create shapely and artistic weavings. His (do male orb weavers make orb webs? I don't remember but my brain is telling me they don't, that they make messy nests and only exist to mate and be eaten but I might be confusing that with a horror movie) siblings make fun of his web shapes, chastising him for not following the beautiful round pattern they use. But their webs catch no prey while his web always snags a tasty treat.
The pictures are...strange. I think the spiders are supposed to look non-threatening and relate-able but they just look like No-Faces with beetle bodies.
Still. The story is about a spider who is inspired to artistic heights by the night sky. That, alone, deserves three stars.
Wait, wait. Let me state a boring thing first: I like spiders and I have a super special soft spot in my heart for orb weavers, so much so that when I find them, I make them my pets and I feed them stunned houseflies. I seriously love them.
Back to the LIES!
I just want you all to know that spiders do not catch bugs based on the individuality of their webs. It's not like some webs look more fancy and so the moths fly into those ones. Spiders catch bugs based on where they put their webs and how strongly those webs are woven. The smartest orb weavers put their webs in stinky bushes, near water, and above porch lights because that's where the most bugs congregate.
In this story, however, Seaver is an orb weaver...maybe a No-Face orb weaver?...who is inspired by the night sky to create shapely and artistic weavings. His (do male orb weavers make orb webs? I don't remember but my brain is telling me they don't, that they make messy nests and only exist to mate and be eaten but I might be confusing that with a horror movie) siblings make fun of his web shapes, chastising him for not following the beautiful round pattern they use. But their webs catch no prey while his web always snags a tasty treat.
The pictures are...strange. I think the spiders are supposed to look non-threatening and relate-able but they just look like No-Faces with beetle bodies.
Still. The story is about a spider who is inspired to artistic heights by the night sky. That, alone, deserves three stars.
March 14, 2016
A fun children's book for 4-6 year olds. A simple story pushing complex issues, such as follow your dreams, new ideas are good, and fitting in. The analogy using spiders is a very good one and works well. The artwork is both visually stimulating, yet a bit understated. This works well in not over whelming the story and the lessons and is plain fun to look at. I really like the way the tale repeats itself much like The Little Red Hen.
January 18, 2016
I love, love, love this story! Not only is Seaver a unique webmaster, he is also kind to his brothers and sisters who insist that he change. Now, Seaver did not change, but his brothers and sisters did! http://julianaleewriter.com/books-ali...
December 16, 2016
Well. Despite my fear/dislike/general uneasiness of spiders the story is successful in its attempt to cherish individuality. However, the illustrations creep me out spectacularly. Good message, but I am definitely not the intended audience for this one. Yeesh.
August 23, 2017
A unique way to teach children about shapes, and about being yourself.
March 10, 2017
Gorgeous illustrations by the Brothers Hilts made me pick up this book, and Paul Czajak's encouraging story about embracing your gifts keeps me wanting to read it over and over to my four-year-old. The contrast between tiny, secretive, competitive-sibling spiders building webs, and the creative inspiration Seaver the Weaver finds in the cool, limitless night sky twinkling with stars, brings me to a calm, hopeful and confident place. Inspired by orb weavers but NOT a natural history book, this gem has a bit of star gazing, a bit of geometry, and a bit of how to thrive as a creative person in the world, which all make for a delightful read. Seaver the Weaver would make a lovely gift for the budding little observer, artist, dreamer or inventor in your life.
February 10, 2019
Seaver the orb spider makes webs in a variety of shapes inspired by his view of the night sky. He persists despite the disdain of his relatives who make traditional round webs. In addition to their interesting shapes, Seaver's webs successfully capture prey.
Repetition and pattern make this delightful story especially appropriate for preschool and Kindergarten. Useful for talking about shapes, spiders, and non-conformity.
Repetition and pattern make this delightful story especially appropriate for preschool and Kindergarten. Useful for talking about shapes, spiders, and non-conformity.
February 17, 2022
Stella is only ok with this book, but I love everything about it. The spider is inspired by stars to make creative non-circular webs each night. Each night the other spiders make fun of him, but his webs catch food and theirs don't. Eventually they ask him to teach them to make cool webs. Love it.
February 28, 2017
One of my daughters loves spiders and this was a great read. Great illustrations.
February 22, 2019
Unusual, but a lovely spider's tale about agency and individuality
November 8, 2023
Bleck, this book has a lot of spiders. It has to start off with all the babies marching away on a web. Shivers.
Seaver is an individual. He sees shapes in the sky and he then makes his web inspired by them. Nature inspires. The book is subtly teaching about shapes.
I didn't think much of the artwork. It was somewhat interesting, but mostly sort of boring. Also, the text was super repetitive, cut and paste sort of repetitive in places.
Great for those that enjoy spiders, a nightmare for those that don't.
Seaver is an individual. He sees shapes in the sky and he then makes his web inspired by them. Nature inspires. The book is subtly teaching about shapes.
I didn't think much of the artwork. It was somewhat interesting, but mostly sort of boring. Also, the text was super repetitive, cut and paste sort of repetitive in places.
Great for those that enjoy spiders, a nightmare for those that don't.
April 8, 2015
Seaver the Weaver is a delightful story about an orb spider who has a unique outlook on weaving his own path. Seaver has many brothers and sisters who tell him that they are orb spiders and they weave round webs and that if he wants to be an orb weaver, “then your web needs to look like ours.” Seaver wants to do like his brothers and sisters tell him, but he can’t resist the beautiful shapes he sees in the night sky and takes great pride in weaving those shapes. Each time his family reminds him that he is an orb weaver and must weaver round webs, he looks at their webs all round, perfect, and empty and says that he’ll try to do better next time, but he "must now tend to his guest."
This is a good book about how sometimes it can be a good thing to not always do the normal. I felt that the author and illustrator were insightful in having Seaver make a correlation between the night sky constellations and the varied shapes he wove. The artistry of triangles, octagons, and other shapes different from the traditional round orb's woven by Orb Spiders.
Seaver the Weaver is written by the same author of the “Monster & Me" books, and he has woven a wonderful web of words. The illustrations are simple, childlike and beautiful. This is a fun book! (reviewed by P.Howard)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely those of reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.
This is a good book about how sometimes it can be a good thing to not always do the normal. I felt that the author and illustrator were insightful in having Seaver make a correlation between the night sky constellations and the varied shapes he wove. The artistry of triangles, octagons, and other shapes different from the traditional round orb's woven by Orb Spiders.
Seaver the Weaver is written by the same author of the “Monster & Me" books, and he has woven a wonderful web of words. The illustrations are simple, childlike and beautiful. This is a fun book! (reviewed by P.Howard)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely those of reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.
April 9, 2015
Seaver is a spider with lots of brothers and sisters who like to spin their webs the same way. Every night hundreds of them spin webs shaped as orbs. But not Seaver. He spins triangles, squares, rhumbas, and other interesting shapes. His siblings scold him every morning when they see these strange webs and say “If you want to be an orb spinner, your web needs to look like ours”. But Seaver is too creative and full of inspiration to be just like everybody else. Will Seaver’s siblings change their tune when they realize his different shaped webs are catching all the nighttime flies?
The Brothers Hilts’ palette of black, white and yellows is refreshing and calming. The illustrations are big and bold and simple, but strong. This book touches on themes of embracing all your differences, being unique and celebrating your individuality, following your dreams. Maybe your own child will look up into the night sky and weave themselves a unique dream of greatness just like Seaver! Read more at www.diapers-and-daydreams.com !
The Brothers Hilts’ palette of black, white and yellows is refreshing and calming. The illustrations are big and bold and simple, but strong. This book touches on themes of embracing all your differences, being unique and celebrating your individuality, following your dreams. Maybe your own child will look up into the night sky and weave themselves a unique dream of greatness just like Seaver! Read more at www.diapers-and-daydreams.com !
March 18, 2015
Seaver the Weaver highlights the efforts of a small orb spider who initiates a unique approach to weaving. Unlike his brothers and sisters, Seaver’s webs are various shapes and sizes and quivering with life. With underlying themes of self assurance, celebrating differences, and perseverance, Paul Czajak’s story is surrounded with positivity. Repeated refrains enhance the storyline and will elicit multiple rereads as the reader fosters a relationship with the text patterns. In tones of midnight blue, gold, pink, soothing greens, and black, The Brothers Hilts accentuate the etched geometric web patterns weaved by the spiders and illuminate the light of the moon. The tiny gentle facial expressions of the spiders invite the reader to form a bond with the characters. Seaver the Weaver has the feel of a classic and the heart of a champion.
June 27, 2015
First off, this is purely a fictional story featuring orb weaver spiders as the main characters. It is not meant to teach data or facts about them.
This book has a very positive theme -- being unique and true to yourself will lead to success in life. Seaver is an orb weaver who is inspired by the shapes he sees in the stars at night. A very poetic and beautiful image. The webs he weaves are not in the typical circular shape, but feature many different angles and shapes. At first this frustrates the other spiders, but then they come to appreciate Seaver's uniqueness.
This book has a very positive theme -- being unique and true to yourself will lead to success in life. Seaver is an orb weaver who is inspired by the shapes he sees in the stars at night. A very poetic and beautiful image. The webs he weaves are not in the typical circular shape, but feature many different angles and shapes. At first this frustrates the other spiders, but then they come to appreciate Seaver's uniqueness.
April 15, 2016
Seaver hatched from his egg with his brothers and sisters. While they busily made orb webs (they were orb web weavers), Seaver was entranced with the stars in the sky and the shapes they made. So his webs were often other geometric shapes. His siblings complained that he was doing it all wrong, but Seaver's webs were the only ones catching food. At the end, the hungry siblings begged Seaver to teach them the new webbings. Seaver and his unique webs were finally appreciated. This book will encourage readers to not be afraid to try something new and unique.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2015
Seaver the Weaver by Paul Czajak came to me through a Goodread's Giveaway contest and is a fun tale about a little spider who becomes inspired to spin his webs according to the shapes he sees in the starry night sky. At first I thought that this story was to help young children learn some shapes but as I continued to read, it dawned on me that this is a tale of the rewarding experience of being true to yourself instead of being just like everyone else.
September 6, 2015
I'm not sure how accurate this story is about the type of spider and webs, but I don't think it's intended to be. I appreciate the message of following your own inspiration and being your own creative person instead of following the crowd or what you're supposed to do because of who you are. I have to admit, I really don't like spiders, and these illustrations gave the spider a face that seems creepy to me.
April 5, 2015
I received a copy of Seaver the Weaver via Goodreads. This story about a spider who is unique and going against the norm can help teach children a good lesson about being yourself. That it's ok to be who you truly are and not feel compelled to do what everyone else is doing just because they tell you to. That's what earned it three stars.
November 21, 2015
This is the perfect read aloud for elementary students to teach about individuality and reinforce the study of polygons. Beautifully written with perfect illustrations to compliment the words. Wonderful picture book.
May 6, 2015
A beautifully illustrated story about a spider who ignores what he is "supposed" to do in favor of what he wants to do. As a bonus, it is a great intro into shapes. Would make a great read aloud or lap read. One of my favorite picture books so far this year!
September 21, 2015
My 2 YO couldn't sit through it. It's about shapes and about thinking differently. Repetitive. The illustrations were a bit monochrome. I think it might be better for slightly older kids but then, the shape learning has already occurred so I feel like some of the purpose of the book is lost.
October 23, 2015
Another book about it being okay to be different. He weaves different shapes in his webs and is the only who who catches bugs. In the end, the spiders want Seaver to teach them how to weave different webs.
November 5, 2015
Arachnids may be locked into patterns by their inherent programming, but not Seaver, who finds inspiration in the stars. There is wry humor and a quiet portrayal of persistence that lifts a simple story to a higher level. Almost a parable or fable, which wisely avoids stating the lesson at the end.
December 15, 2015
Inspired by the night sky, Seaver is a spider that breaks with family tradition to build a different shaped web. My favorite thing about this book is the night sky drawings: the dark navy color and the pinkish moonlight are unique.
October 6, 2018
A very interesting story that informs about this weaver spider while setting up a comical scenario. The bonus is the encouragement for children who may not be sure of themselves or their talents. Fun illustrations.
July 19, 2016
Seaver enjoys weaving unique webs, rather than orbs. His brothers and sisters keep reminding him he is an orb weaver, but Seaver's webs are always more successful, too. Finally, his brothers and sisters agree.
February 28, 2020
Seaver is inspired by the stars at night and just can't seem to make round webs like his siblings, he makes triangle, square, and hexagon webs like his precious constellations. A sweet story about following your heart despite peer pressure. Definitely a nice group read aloud.
April 26, 2015
This is delightful book about being true to who you are. Both my daughter and my son love reading it!
March 31, 2015
It's a cute book, even if it is about spiders!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews