The Big Spider Who Learned How to Swim(R) is the heart-warming story of a spider with a kind disposition and a love of adventure who is taught how to swim by a kindly fish who saved the spider's life after it fell into a lake and nearly drowned. The spider then encourages his peers as he teaches them how to safely cross a puddle.
This feel-good, rhyming Read-to/Read-along story is appropriate for pre-school & elementary school-age children as it inspires the spirit of kindness, empathy and appreciation.
This rhyming story is written as told by the female author who tells of finding a spider who is drowning in a puddle. "I saw a spider drowning in a puddle. I removed him and saved his life. He took a deep breath, smiled at me and asked, will you be my wife?" The sweetness of this encounter sets a delightful pace for a happy tale to ensue wherein the spider hugs the lady goodbye and sets off on an adventure. The spider encounters friendly creatures such as a bluebird and a dragonfly, each giving him a ride on their backs. When the spider falls in the water and once again finds himself in peril, his life is saved by a fish named "Tim" who teaches him how to swim. The spider reflects on his adventure and feels gratitude and loving appreciation for the lady, the bird, the dragonfly and for Tim.
Later, the spider is with a group of "spidery friends" and as they approach a puddle, he explains that they will not walk around the puddle but will swim through it. He told them of his adventures and he taught them how to swim. Expressing thanks to their friend for teaching them how to fearlessly cross the puddle, they happily went on their way.
The story ends with the lady author once again encountering her "spider friend", congratulating him on learning how to swim. She asked him if he found it hard, and he replied "My dear lady", he said, "it was scary at first then became easy after awhile".
The feel-good story ends with the author appreciating the spider. "As I waved again to my sweet spider friend I knew he would be okay. He is brave and kind and has a smart mind, and I know he will return one day".
This story may serve to awaken the reader's awareness that by being kind and helpful to one another, no matter how different we are (e.g. spider and human), happiness and success may prevail.
