Philip Hopman – illustratör

Spider McDrew is the lovable boy who can’t help being one step behind everyone else in his class. Three gently and funny school stories in one book. A Roaring Good Read for confident readers.Spider McDrew is a hopeless case – or so everyone says – but somehow he always manages to surprise everyone. Spider is slow and a dreamer, the sort of child who is always one step behind the rest of the class, but this doesn't mean he's stupid – far from it. Three gently humorous stories about this loveable character – his adventures at school. There's a football story – quite by accident Spider scores the winning goal; a pet story – Spider brings a cow into the playground for his school pets' project! And a school play story where Spider stars, by default. Bursting with character and originality, the author offers acutely perceptive snapshots of contemporary school life.

A second title about this loveable character who never quite manages to keep up with his classmates. School stories with the essential feel-good factor.Spider is always saying and doing the wrong thing: he forgets the punchlines to his own jokes; he daydreams in class; he always has odd socks on; and he even gets into a muddle over his party invitations. He may be a hopeless case, but is the most lovable of children and usually turns out to be the hero. Three stories in one book: in the first, Spider’s class visits a doughnut factory but instead of a doughnut, Spider decides to make a doughnut man. In the second story, Spider’s class as doing a project on the USA. Everyone is supposed to come to schools dressed as a cowboy, but Spider decides to be Geronimo. In the third story, it’s Spider’s birthday and he makes and gives out invitations – but for the wrong day!

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right levelSpider McDrew gets the chance to play for the Parkfield school football team, in the end-of-season cup draw. As usual though, things are not plain sailing for Spider who lets his side down by giving away a crucial penalty kick. Poor Spider is a pitiful sight as he stands on the touchline all alone. Then, he is asked to take one last corner kick. Topaz/Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate.Text type – A humorous story with a familiar setting.A reader response page provides lots of opportunities for speaking and listening and scaffolding writing.Curriculum links – ICT: Combining text and graphics; PSHE: Developing good relationships.This is the second SpiderMcDrew tale by Alan Durant and Philip Hopman.This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.