S1 - EP 7 - Itsy Bitsy Spider Savage

One spider on the front door can flip a quiet morning into a full-on bookstore saga. We open with a sunbathing arachnid scaring off customers and end up exploring how stories turn fear into wonder, how humor cools a hot moment, and how a small shop navigates big feelings without losing its heart.

We trade the broom for a book stack: Luigi the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten by Michelle Knutsen, The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle, Never Touch a Spider by Rosie Greening, Charlotte’s Web, and Miss Spider’s Tea Party. Each title offers a different path through spider anxiety—playful identity, steady purpose, tactile curiosity, classic empathy, and social grace. Along the way, we talk about real-world retail: sticker mishaps, customer care, and the delicate line between removing a stressor and respecting small wildlife. Fear shows up at the door; literature invites it in for tea.

There’s laughter, a little bickering, and a gleefully off-key Itsy Bitsy Spider that turns panic into a group reset. We share practical tips for parents, teachers, and booksellers: keep humane relocation tools nearby, use interactive books to redirect nerves, name characters to humanize creatures, and let songs help kids practice resilience. By the time the spider vanishes, we’ve reframed the whole scene—less menace, more marvel—and stocked a reading list that makes the next creepy-crawly moment gentler for everyone.

If this mix of bookstore life, kid-lit gems, and everyday courage hits home, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a smile, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these stories. What spider book belongs on our shelf next?

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

It's time for Baby Baby and Evil Gluxi's Book Point Book Review Podcast. Book Reviews Incarnate. Good morning, baby. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Good morning, bad morning, as usual, Glussy.

SPEAKER_02 0:15

Okay, morning.

Customer Panic And What To Do

SPEAKER_00 0:16

I just wanted something really, really quick. Did you happen to see the big old spider hanging on our front door?

SPEAKER_02 0:22

No, I didn't.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Yeah, there's this big spider sitting out there in the sun, just signing itself like there's no tomorrow, scaring all our customers away.

SPEAKER_02 0:32

I didn't, but I know all sorts of cool books about spiders.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

You had no idea it was there?

SPEAKER_02 0:38

Nope, had no idea. It wasn't.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

We need to do something about it, because all it's gonna do is terrify the customers, and all they're gonna do is be upset because there's a spider on the door.

SPEAKER_02 0:47

That may be a good sign of spring coming.

Pivot To Spider Book Recs

SPEAKER_00 0:50

I'm sorry. The bottom line is we gotta do something about the spider on the door. The only spring that we will see is some customers springing away.

SPEAKER_02 0:58

Well, before I go chase away a spider, I just wanted to share a couple of really cool spider books with you, baby.

SPEAKER_00 1:04

You have the best, worst timing in the world, Gloxy. I will give you a thing.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

I know. It's a cute book. It is a cute book. Yeah, it's wonderful. By Michelle Canucks.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

I agree with you. Oh, and I see the pentulous purse person still here.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

She came in today. She Oh, how wonderful. Kinda. Oh, even better. She brought her kid. Oh, right. He's doing stickers all over the back of the wall over by the bathroom.

Classics And Store Chaos

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Just make sure you charge her for the book. That's full of stickers. Oh, sorry. It's empty of stickers. No stickers left. I'm glad you're so good with customers because there's times I just want to go scream across a bald-headed prairie all of my own.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

The prairie's so far away. We're in California.

SPEAKER_00 1:50

It's a thought.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

Anyway, Luigi the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten by Michelle Knutsen is a wonderful book for kids.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

Yep, we've already established that's cute.

SPEAKER_02 1:59

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carl.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

I like that one too, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

And Never Touch a Spider Interactive Book by Rosie Greening.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Uh-huh. That one I've seen that one. Yes, I like that one.

SPEAKER_02 2:10

There's Charlotte's Webb, the wonderful story about a famously intelligent spider that made lives change.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

It really did. It changed my life as a kid.

SPEAKER_02 2:19

And Miss Spider's Tea Party? You're right. Wonderful. Yep, these are just books that have been on our floor all over the place.

SPEAKER_00 2:25

Too bad somebody didn't use one to throw at a spider.

SPEAKER_02 2:27

Well, be nice to spiders, baby. It's not that big a deal.

Ego, Comfort, And A Silly Song

SPEAKER_00 2:30

Yeah, and I like some of their books. I really do. Oh, I hate it when you're right, Cloxy. This really doesn't make for a good day when you're always right.

SPEAKER_02 2:38

It's okay. Spiders can be scary. I get it.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

I'm supposed to be the leader. I'm the star.

SPEAKER_02 2:43

Owen, you're always the star, baby. Thank you. It's okay, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 2:46

I love you too, Cloxy.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Oh, that reminds me. We can do the Ittsy Bitsy spider song with me singing out of my three heads.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Especially that weird two, three, head thing you did. It's a lot of fun. It's weird.

SPEAKER_02 2:57

In fact, baby, you're gonna join in. It's in the contract.

SPEAKER_00 3:02

I hate this contract. I'm sorry. I get it. Let's join in. Have fun anywhere. Let's get the bummer out.

SPEAKER_01 3:09

Itsy bitsy spider went up the water spot. Down came the rain and watched the spider. Out came the sun and tried to pull the rain and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spot again.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

We're done here, Gloxy. Back to work!

SPEAKER_02 3:25

Oh, by the way, baby, the spider's gone from our front door. Where did it go? I have no idea.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Look around! It could be in here somewhere. Maybe it's building a web. Uh maybe it's in the world wide web. Look, real quickly. Make sure it's not any.

SPEAKER_02 3:38

Okay, I guess that's the end of our podcast today. Anyway, thanks for tuning in and like and subscribe wherever they do those things on these things. But have fun. See ya next time. Bye.

SPEAKER_00 3:50

Come out and out, spider, wherever you are.