Sophie's Masterpiece : A Spider's Tale

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Summary: Spinelli and Dyer have spun an enchanting tale...
Review: This is the second children's book of writer/illustrator team Eileen Spinelli and Jane Dyer who have the ability to create instant classics in the children's book department. In Sophie's Masterpiece, thier second effort together, Sophie the spider is a web-spinner extraordinaire whose works go largly unappreciated by the residents of Beekman's Bordinghouse. By the time Sophie finds a comfortable home with a "young woman" on the thrid floor, she is very old and tired - but she finds the strength to spin one last work of art for the young woman's new baby. Spinelli has taken the cycle of life and death and created a story that, while ultimately sad at the end, does not dampen the wonderful feelings you have for Sophie's selfless and beautiful act. Dyer's watercolor illustrations are perfectly in tune with the story and are incredibly detailed from Sophie's shadow on the staircase to the individual strands of each of Sophie's webs! A truly beautiful book all the way around.