I Worked Hard on That!

A spider comes to embrace the iterative nature of making in this tightly written story by Wall. Encountering an “extraordinary” web, arachnid Kiara attempts her own, quickly finding that “heart-filling webs were not as simple as belly-filling ones.” Various initial efforts leave the protagonist feeling “flat,” “small,” and “gray,” until persistence allows her to push past negativity. But greatness remains elusive as a series of oblivious passersby wreak destructive havoc, resulting in the title’s exclamatory refrain. A partnership with weaver Orb seems ideal, until the latter’s appetite damages their collaboration. Epiphany arrives through discussion with a fellow creator who articulates how discoveries can be made through repeated effort. Leaning on dusty sages and candy reds, Kang’s digital artwork has paperlike textures, giving scenes an appealing dimensionality as this picture of creaturely creativity delivers winning insight about process. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)