The Best Books About Spiders Available Today

Written by Sarah Psaradelis
Updated: April 17, 2023
© SNEHIT PHOTO/Shutterstock.com

Advertisement


This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.

Spiders are fascinating creatures that can be found around the world, but if you can’t travel, you can explore them in some of the best books about spiders. These arachnids come in a range of different colors, shapes, and sizes. There are around 48,000 different species of spiders and there are likely many more as some have not been identified yet. Spiders live in diverse habitats on every continent except Antarctica.

If you are looking for an interesting book that gives you plenty of information on the different species of spider and their habitats, along with illustrations and profiles of them, then you definitely want to check out the books in this review.  

  1. Spiders of the World: A Natural History
    • Written by six leading experts
    • Includes information about 100+ spider families
    • Colorful illustrations
    • Available in hardback or Kindle editions
    Check Amazon
  2. Spiders and Their Kin
    • Features expert knowledge
    • Easy to read guide
    • Colorful images
    • Available in paperback or Kindle editions
    Check Amazon
  3. The Tarantula Keeper's Guide: Comprehensive Information on Care, Housing, and Feeding
    • 384 page comprehensive guide to tarantulas
    • Includes care guide for each tarantula species
    • Discusses breeding, care, maintenance & more
    Check Amazon
  4. Amazing Arachnids
    • 700+ colored photographs
    • Detailed information on 300 different arachnids
    • Includes rare and newly identified species
    Check Amazon
  5. Spiders: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts on Animals in Nature
    • Easy to read
    • Captivating color images
    • A perfect introduction to the basics of spiders
    Check Amazon
  6. Spiders (New & Updated Edition)
    • New & updated edition
    • Highly rated
    • Imformative guide
    • Colorful illustrations
    Check Amazon

A-Z Animals Top Picks for Books About Spiders

#1 Best Overall: Spiders of the World by Norman I. Platnick

The best overall spider book that we have reviewed is Spiders of the World by Norman I. Platnick.

This hardcover or Kindle book includes 240 pages of information about the different spiders that inhabit six out of seven continents and how they thrive in a range of different environments. This book includes details on the different species of spiders found around the globe and helps readers understand why spiders are one of the most versatile creatures we will come across.

This book provides captivating knowledge of the world’s different spiders with plenty of colorful illustrations for visual reference. It includes over 100 different spider families and their taxonomy information, along with information about their history and evolutionary adaptions.

Pros and Cons of Spiders of the World by Norman I. Platnick

ProsCons
This book contain information about the spiders that inhabit six out of seven continentsNone
It explains why they are versatile animals.
It features more than 100 sider families.
There are Kindle and hardcover editions available.
Best Overall
Spiders of the World: A Natural History
  • Written by six leading experts
  • Includes information about 100+ spider families
  • Colorful illustrations
  • Available in hardback or Kindle editions
Check Amazon

2. Most Affordable: Spiders and their Kin by Herbert W Levi (Author), Lorna R Levi (Author), and Nicholas Strekalovsky (Illustrator)

The most affordable book about spiders is Spiders and their Kin by Herbert W Levi (Author), Lorna R Levi (Author), and Nicholas Strekalovsky (Illustrator).

This is an easy-to-read and highly rated book written by Herbert Levi and Lorna Levi, with 160 pages dedicated to the diverse world of spiders. This book features expert knowledge on the different characteristics and habits of spiders. It talks about their growth patterns, enemies, and courtship rituals which are guaranteed to keep you interested. It also features information on the different species and how you can preserve and raise spiders. This affordable spider book is available as a paperback or in a Kindle edition. It is filled with accurate information and colorful pictures to help you easily identify the species of spider you are reading about.

The only drawback to this book is that it is only pocket sized.

Pros and Cons of Spiders and their Kin by Herbert W Levi (Author), Lorna R Levi (Author), and Nicholas Strekalovsky (Illustrator)

ProsCons
This book proved expert knowledge on the characteristics and habits of spiders.It is pocket sized.
It talks about their growth patterns and courtship rituals.
It is filled with colorful pictures.
Most Affordable
Spiders and Their Kin
  • Features expert knowledge
  • Easy to read guide
  • Colorful images
  • Available in paperback or Kindle editions
Check Amazon

3. Best Guide to Tarantulas: The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide by Stanley A. Schultz and Marguerite J. Schultz

If you are a tarantula hobbyist who enjoys learning about tarantulas and their appropriate husbandry then The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide by Stanley A. Schultz and Marguerite J. Schultz is a great book to check out.

It is written by Stanley Schultz and Marguerite Schultz and includes 384 pages of detailed information, along with detailed care for each species of tarantula commonly kept as pets.

Tarantulas are described as low-maintenance exotic pets that are fun to care for and captivating to watch. It goes into detail on each spider’s natural history and biology. In fact, this book is often described as the “bible of arachnoculture” by tarantula owners and enthusiasts as it sure does live up to its title!

Unfortunately, some customers have reported that although this book is comprehensive some of the information about tarantulas is now a little “outdated”.

Pros and Cons of The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide by Stanley A. Schultz and Marguerite J. Schultz

ProsCons
This book provides information about the care required for the most commonly kept tarantula species.Some of the information is now outdated.
It explains their biology and natural history.
There are 384 pages of detailed information.
Best Guide to Tarantulas
The Tarantula Keeper's Guide: Comprehensive Information on Care, Housing, and Feeding
  • 384 page comprehensive guide to tarantulas
  • Includes care guide for each tarantula species
  • Discusses breeding, care, maintenance & more
Check Amazon

4. Best Illustrations: Amazing Arachnids by Jillian Cowles

If you’re looking for a book with stunning illustrations then check out Amazing Arachnids by Jillian Cowles.

This richly illustrated book about arachnids by Jillian Cowles features 328 pages of detailed information. It discusses 300 different types of arachnids and includes over 700 fully colored photographs for visual reference. This book describes detailed information on arachnid biologies — such as physiology and biogeography. It also includes information on the different defense mechanisms, courtship, maternal care, and hunting abilities of spiders. This book includes fascinating pictures of their underground behavior and includes rare and newly identified species of spiders and other arachnids such as fishing spiders, bola spiders, and microscopic mites that are classified as arachnids.

Pros and Cons of Amazing Arachnids by Jillian Cowles

ProsCons
This book features 300 different types of arachnids.None
There are more than 700 full-color photographs.
It talks about their defense mechanisms and hunting ability.
It includes rare and newly identified species.
Best Illustrations
Amazing Arachnids
  • 700+ colored photographs
  • Detailed information on 300 different arachnids
  • Includes rare and newly identified species
Check Amazon

5. Best for Kids: Spiders: Amazing Pictures and Fun Facts on Animals in Nature by Kay de Silva

If you’re looking for a good book about spiders for kids then we recommend Spiders: Amazing Pictures and Fun Facts on Animals in Nature by Kay de Silva.

This highly rated book features captivating illustrations and easy-to-read words to form a fascinating children’s book written by Kay de Silva. It includes colorful images to provide children with a visual of what they are learning about, along with child-friendly captions to make it easier for your child to decipher the pictures.

Available in both a paperback and Kindle edition, this book is ideal for all children that are fascinated by spiders. It’s even helpful for children who need help getting over their fear of spiders. This book includes information about the anatomy of spiders, their feeding habits, and their behavior to give children in-depth knowledge on the basics of spiders.

The only drawback to this book is that it does not contain a lot of pictures.

Pros and Cons of Spiders: Amazing Pictures and Fun Facts on Animals in Nature by Kay de Silva

ProsCons
This book has easy-to-read words.It does not contain a lot of pictures.
It includes colorful images.
It includes information about anatomy, feeding habits, and behavior.
Best for Kids
Spiders: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts on Animals in Nature
  • Easy to read
  • Captivating color images
  • A perfect introduction to the basics of spiders
Check Amazon

6. Most Informative: Spiders by Gail Gibbons

In our opinion, one of the most informative books about spiders is Spiders by Gail Gibbons.

The new and updated edition of the highly-rated book by Gail Gibbons includes information on all the different types of spiders and their behaviors. It has information on the different species’ history, along with labeled illustrations. This book has many positive reviews and an impressive rating for the information it provides. It makes it easy to learn about the different species of spiders and includes exciting trivia and information about what makes spiders different from many other insects. This book can help those overcoming arachnophobia by learning about the usefulness of spiders and how they may look scary but most are generally harmless and often helpful to the ecosystem.

Pros and Cons of Spiders by Gail Gibbons

ProsCons
This book includes information on many different types of spiders.None
It features labelled illustrations.
It talks about their history, behavior, and biology.
Most Informative
Spiders (New & Updated Edition)
  • New & updated edition
  • Highly rated
  • Imformative guide
  • Colorful illustrations
Check Amazon

Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When it comes to choosing the right spider book, you first need to consider the type of spider book you need before you can make an informed purchase.

Type

With so many different species of spiders found around the world, each book will not be able to give exact information on all the different species out there. So, if you are looking for a book about a particular type of spider — such as tarantulas or spiders that spin elaborate webs — then you want to look for a book that contains information on that topic.

Illustrations

You may enjoy reading a book about spiders that includes pictures for visual reference. Many spider books may have a lot of writing, so it can be better to read one that contains illustrations of the different spider species the author is referring to. Most spider books for children will also include a lot more pictures than writing. Some people may also be looking for a book that contains a lot of factual information about spiders with fewer pictures.

About the Author

Sarah is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering aquatic pets, rodents, arachnids, and reptiles. Sarah has over 3 years of experience in writing and researching various animal topics. She is currently working towards furthering her studies in the animal field. A resident of South Africa, Sarah enjoys writing alongside her pets and almost always has her rats perched on her shoulders.

The Best Books About Spiders Available Today FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Do spiders make good pets?

Spiders make great exotic pets and they are known to be low maintenance. Most pet spiders are better suited as “watch” pets because they can be injured or escape if they are handled incorrectly. Spiders such as tarantulas are becoming increasingly popular as pets and can be found in pet stores and by tarantula breeders.

How many species of spiders are there?

There are around 48,000 different species of spiders that can be found throughout the world. These species have been classed into 132 different families and their characteristics have been recorded by taxonomists. Many species of spiders are yet to be discovered and documented properly.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.