Just Itzy

A spider on a quest to drop the “Bitzy” and become “just Itzy” runs up against some challenges—and a few familiar nursery-rhyme characters.

Itzy the spider is tired of being called “Itzy Bitzy.” On his first day of spindergarten, Itzy decides to prove to everyone that he’s a big spider by catching his own lunch. But spinning a web is hard work, and every time Itzy gets close to catching a fly, something gets in the way—whether it’s a girl sitting on a tuffet, an old lady swallowing everything in sight, or a dangerous waterspout. Will Itzy ever get a chance to prove himself and shake his pesky nickname? Illustrated in bold vignettes by Geisel Award winner Greg Pizzoli, Itzy’s amusing adventures are a clever balm for the frustrations of preschoolers fed up with being too little.

Lana Krumwiede is the creator of the Psi Chronicles series. Her work has appeared in Highlights, High Five, Spider, Babybug, The Friend, and Chicken Soup for the Child’s Soul. She lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Greg Pizzoli is the author and illustrator of The Watermelon Seed, winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, and Number One Sam. He lives in Philadelphia and tries his best to avoid spiders.