The Very Busy Spider
A charming, tactile book about a spider's persistence. With a raised web that a child can touch, it is designed for very young children who are still exploring the world through their fingers.
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle is estimated to take about 4.5 minutes to read aloud (261 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 2-5.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 261Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 2-5Our editorial fit
Our review
The story follows a spider as she works through the requests of various animals. The repetition of the line about her being "very busy" helps toddlers anticipate what comes next.
The physical feature of the raised web is perfect for babies and toddlers who may not be able to sit still for a full story but want to feel the textures.
Before you buy it
The textured web is the main attraction, but it tends to flatten with heavy use. You'll likely find board books hold up better than paperbacks.
Themes
- farm
- animal sounds
- spiders
- persistence
- touch
Books like The Very Busy Spider
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
The Very Hungry Caterpillarabout 4 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
A House for Hermit Crababout 9.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?about 4 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
From Head to Toeabout 4 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Dear Zooabout 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read The Very Busy Spider aloud?
About 4.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 261. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is The Very Busy Spider actually for?
Ages 2-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does The Very Busy Spider survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is The Very Busy Spider a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise The Very Busy Spider?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read The Very Busy Spider on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 2 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does The Very Busy Spider cover?
We tag it with farm, animal sounds, spiders, persistence and touch. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
