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11 year-old Abby from Clapham, England is quite a fan of The Spider & The Fly. “How big of a fan?” you ask. She’s such an awesome fan that she penned an awesome sequel. Check it out.

The Spider and the Fly 2

By Abby, age 11

“Hoorah! My plan has finally worked,”

Thought the spider in his head.

“I have eaten up that poor fly now and she is long dead!”

The spider laughed and laughed with glee.

He then set off for a snack,

But he heard an unwelcome knock on the door

That stopped him in his tracks.

The spider went to open the door

When the visitor barged inside

He could not run, he could not flee,

He could not even hide.

“You have the right to remain silent,”

Said the very angry police pest.

“We think you are a murderer

And you are hereby under arrest.”

The spider met his lawyer,

A cunning, clever man.

The odds were not good at all,

But at least they had a plan.

The opening speech was made,

A story of his knighthood.

The jury seemed to lap it up,

Things were looking good.

The ghostly fly was called to the stand,

An oath is what she swore,

She then began a gory tale

Of what happened two nights before.

Next to be questioned were two ghost bugs

“We warned her but she didn’t listen!”

They pleaded to the judge.

“Aha! At last! It’s my time to shine!”

Thought the spider.

“Now I shall be questioned and I’ll give answers sublime!”

The spider was questioned,

He gave tales that were tall.

“I’m a kind hearted fellow, but ne’er a fool.”

“The spider and the fly?

What a tale of great height.

Why I haven’t seen old Tony

Since…that terrible fight.”

A surprise was in store

For the spider, aghast

As his ex-friend Mr DiTerlizzi

Had arrived at last.

“Objection!”

Yelled the spider

“Objection I say!”

I have not forgiven Tony to this very day!”

“Objection not granted,”

Said the judge

“Question on.”

And the spider did not draw breath until he had gone.

“The jury will now pass their verdict.”

Said the judge to the court.

They left

And the spider’s throat was rather taut.

The jury came back, then came the judge.

The spider was ready,

Prepared for the worst.

He knew it was coming,

His tears were well rehearsed.

But the spider was met

With a pleasant surprise.

He didn’t need to prepare his eyes.

Haha! He was free

Of a burden so chilling.

Now he could go back

And do some more killing.

…Here’s what I love: Abby uses the meter of the original poem AND creates a twist ending. Delicious! Perhaps you’ll enjoy the 10th Anniversary edition of S&F that will be creeping its way to bookstores later this year…more on that next time.

Keep writing, keep drawing, keep dreaming.

Dear sweet creatures, while Hero for WondLa is off to the printer and binder, I have turned my attention to preparations for a very special birthday to be held later this year. 2012 marks the 10-year anniversary of my debut as a New York Times best seller, as well as receiving a Caldecott honor, for my adaptation of Mary Howitt’s 1829 poem, The Spider & The Fly.

I have pulled the original artwork from my files and begun a special dust jacket (featuring new art), and which will also have a vintage 1930′s movie poster-inspired image on the flip side. After the 50+ digitally colored images for Hero, I am thoroughly enjoying the use of Holbein’s “Jet Black” and “Titanium White” acryla gouache – the same two colors I used to paint the original book.

Above, from left to right: the original image of Ms. Fly from the finished book, the first character study I did for her (back in August of 2001), photos of 1920′s silent-film star Clara Bow, and the new image for the jacket and poster.

All eight legs are crossed for more exciting news about Spider & Fly which I will reveal as the fall approaches. In the meantime, I’ll keep sharing images from the studio as well as old sketches and memories of the book’s creation. If you’ve any questions or requests, leave a comment.

Okay, I am off to paint a certain devilish spider…