The Spider and the Fly

DiTerlizzi's wickedly delicious tribute to silent film - based on the cautionary tale penned by Mary Howitt in 1829 - presents an old-fashioned, cackling villain and a naïve damsel in distress in this ambient, moody picture book with all the allure of the flickering silver screen. Skillful use of tone, line and perspective add to the mystery of this melodramatic tale, executed entirely in eerie shades of black and white. Children of all ages will shiver with dread and delight as DiTerlizzi entangles them in his hypnotic web. A 2003 Caldecott Honor Book.