Book Review: The Spider on the Web by Lee Jordan

The internet is a terrifying place, with online predators, cyberbullies, and identity thieves lurking in every corner—and it’s laced with lots of young prey. When children use the web without supervision, they are exposed to a wide range of frightening situations.  Now, one father is on a mission to keep our kids safe by using a language they can understand—a cautionary short story with a rhythm and a purpose.

Jordan’s new campaign is a fresh take on internet safety. In One Creepy Street: Spider on the Web, he dives into the dangers of online games, social networking, and other seemingly harmless
communications. Readers are thrust into the tangled web of an online predator who prowls the internet, targeting children and using games to lure in his unsuspecting victims.

Spider on the Web is a whimsically illustrated story that not only appeals to children of all ages but also teaches valuable lessons such as:

• The perils of social networking and communicating online with strangers.
• Why sending pictures and other information over the internet is a recipe for disaster.
• How children can use their parents as online mentors, asking questions if anything seems creepy or suspicious.

My Thoughts

This was a really cute children's book that goes over the various dangers on the internet. It mainly talked about not knowing who was on the other side and to not give out private information or go somewhere and meet the person. I believe as a parent in the digital age, it's never too young to start teaching your kids about the safety of the internet.

In this book, the main character decides to meet this so called friend of hers online at the local mall, who turns out to be a big nasty spider. Her parents discover what she has done before it gets serious, but the book does hint on what could have happened.

My children are 8 and 10, and they had an easy time following along with the story. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. And the writing was very good and the words were easy to understand on my children's level.