Silk & Venom: Searching For a Dangerous Spider    by Kathryn Lasky & Christopher Knight Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 2011 (2011) Hardcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Bob Walch Join biology professor and arachnologist Greta Binford as she goes in search of the elusive and deadly Loxosceles taino, a reclusive spider whose venom may hold in its DNA the answer to many scientific questions. Binford is accompanied to the Caribbean by Lasky and Knight as she searches through outdoor markets, garbage dumps and other locales in the Dominican Republic. 'Spiders have great patience. They can wait for hours quietly, unmoving. They are masters of stillness – in a dust-colored attic, a dirt-encrusted abandoned car, a woodpile. Some are quite fond of filth and find great comfort in crud,' writes Lasky. As you'll see, patience will be one of the key characteristics the members of this team will have to show as they launch their search. And they'll have to sift through plenty of filth and crud to find their poisonous, eight legged quarry. Loaded with lots of information on spiders and breathtaking color photography, this unusual book will interest youngsters age six and older who are interested in these interesting arachnids. Many adults will find this a fascinating read and science teachers may want to make sure this book finds its way into the school or classroom library. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews