The Eensy-Weensy Spider

Capering caterpillars and blooming spring flowers ornament this bouncy reprise of a nursery standby. The book opens with musical stanzas for ""The Eensy-Weensy Spider,"" along with a diagram of hand and arm gestures to be performed by the singer. A carnation-pink spider climbs a crocus-blue waterspout, while subsequent spreads describe the eight-legged heroine's garden adventures, all in keeping with the original tune: ""The eensy-weensy spider met a baby bug./ `Hi!' said the spider and gave the bug a hug./ `Ugh!' said the bug. `Your hug is much too tight!'/ `I'm sorry,' said the spider. `I meant to be polite.' "" Hoberman (A House Is a House for Me) invents everyday scenarios in which the spider interacts with her friendly insect neighbors (e.g., she gets assistance from a glow worm when the sun goes down). Westcott (I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly) conjures the cozy vignettes with dainty pen-and-ink outlines and fresh watercolor hues of daffodil yellow and misty green. The spider's mother sits down to a meal of curds and whey, and the eensy-weensy spider drifts off to sleep in a spun-silk hammock. These pleasing new stanzas extend a favorite song and lend personality to an indomitable creature who never lets a little rain get in her way. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)