In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

Usually, in this post, we focus on cheery and delightful things that make our state fantastic. But on this week of Halloween, I thought it would be “fun” to find out more about some creepy-crawly creatures that call Minnesota home: spiders!
According to this article, there have been 19 unique species that have had confirmed sightings in Minnesota. If this interests you, check out this page from the U of M Extension to learn more about types of spiders in Minnesota.
So, if you’re in the mood for spiders this Halloween, here are some books to help:

Spiders of the North Woods by Larry Weber “Which spider spits venom and sticky threads? Why don’t Northerners need to fear the Black Widow? These answers and more are found in Spiders of the North Woods. The easy-to-follow format makes field identification of over 60 species simple and fun.”

 

Kafka’s Uncle and Other Strange Tales by Bruce Taylor “An alternate universe? A different dimension? The “id” of America? Meet Anslenot and his tormentor/confident, a giant tarantula, as they wander through a blasted, desecrated landscape of broken ideals and shattered hopes. ”

 

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott “Anansi the Spider is one of the great folk heroes of the world. He is a rogue, a mischief maker, and a wise, lovable creature who triumphs over larger foes. In this traditional Ashanti tale, Anansi sets out on a long, difficult journey. Threatened by Fish and Falcon, he is saved from terrible fates by his sons. But which of his sons should Anansi reward? Calling upon Nyame, the God of All Things, Anansi solves his predicament in a touching and highly resourceful fashion.”

Frank the Seven-Legged Spider by Michaele Razi “Frank loves being a spider, especially the part that involves having eight glorious legs. But one morning Frank wakes up missing a leg. One of his friends exclaims, “I barely recognize him!” Another friend asks, “Are you still a spider, Frank?” Is he still a spider? Frank doesn’t know. And so a quest ensues as Frank searches for his leg and the answer to his identity.”

And of course, you can’t go wrong with the classic Charlotte’s Web or Eric Carle’s The Very Busy Spider.