And the winners of the giveaway are: Robyn Campbell, Susanna Hill and Nancy Furstinger!
It’s the Itsy Bitsy Spider’s birthday!
Let the celebrations begin!
It seems a giveaway is in order.
I am giving away 3 signed (and personalized) hardcover copies. For a chance to win a copy, leave me a short verse about the itsy bitsy spider. It can follow the original meter, or choose your own form- from haiku to free verse. Let’s continue the adventures beyond the waterspout!
Contest will end on Saturday, March 23rd at 9 PM EST.
3 winners will be randomly chosen.
And here are some coloring pages for your kids. This is a sample. The printable PDFs are below.
Itsy (cat-yarn) coloring page
Itsy coloring page frogs
Itsy coloring page rabbit
Teachers and librarians- my publisher, Charlesbridge, is offering a 10% discount on orders of 5 or more copies of Itsy Bitsy and all my titles through December 2013! Here is the PDF with details:
I can’t wait to read your verses! And good luck!
About the author
Great Big Things That I Learned From The Itsy Bitsy Spider
(thanks to inspiration from Julie Rowan Zoch)
Dismayed by rain that fills the spout?
Never wonder, fret, or doubt.
The sun will always come back out!
Happy 20th Book Birthday Itsy Bitsy Spider! Over one MILLION copies sold. That sounds good – let’s say it again. Over one MILLION copies!!
Bravo, Iza and many wishes for continued success!
Thank you so much, Cathy! That’s a lovely verse and perfect for this gray week we’re having! I appreciate your good wishes too. xo
Itsy Bitsy Spider
celebration’s nigh.
Crawl from your web
for a slice of fly pie.
Happy 20th Birthday!
Awesome, Marie! Thanks for starting it off!
Wahoo!!! Happy birthday, Spider!! I am on the fly right now, but you know I will be back this weekend with my verse and to spread the word in all the usual places!
One million!!! That is staggering, but not surprising — your work is so special!
Thanks Renee! I can’t wait to hear your verse and thanks in advance for sharing. You’re wonderful!
BBF, yippeeeee!!! Happy birthday Spider and WOWZA! EGAD, over one million copies. That’s SUPER BODACIOUS! Why it’s even super duper bodacious!!!! I will tune in to listen to you read.
Just so you know, I STINKETH at poetry. But I’ll give you a HUMONGOUS laugh, Spider:
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
climbed up the horse’s tail.
he frightened the rider
who let out a loud wail.
*ducks tomatoes flying her way* *slinks off, head down*
Mwah, bbf!
HAHA! No tomatoes coming your way, BBF! It’s great! And were I the rider I’d be wailing too. Spiders really scare me
Thanks for all the super duper salutes, and thanks in advance for tuning in today! Big Hugs xoxo
Happy 20th to one of my favorite Iza Trapani titles – I read this over and over and over to my daughter, who just turned 20 on February 23 – the same as Itsy Bitsy
Congratulations on so many sales – but no surprise – all your work is so wonderful! So cool you’re going to be on Blog Talk Radio! I may have to listen later, but I’ll get there 
)
Here is my feeble attempt at rhyme… (and of course there is chocolate involved
The Itsy Bitsy Spider decided she must bake.
“What good’s a birthday unless you have some cake?”
Eight nimble arms turned out to be just right
To concoct a double-decker choc-o-late delight!
(Yeah, you have to say chocolate the right way or the last line doesn’t work…
)
Oh yeah, “feeble attempt at rhyme”…NOT! That is great, Susanna. I love it! I love the 8 nimble arms concocting a double decker choc-o-late delight. And even without the dashes, the meter is perfect. This is one of those words that tends to have its syllables slurred- like “our” which is really two syllables but most people pronounce it like one. But real poets count on people reading words correctly. You done good!!!:-)
Happy Birthday, Itzy Bitzy Spider,
I’ll be back
Love the coloring pages and your contest idea, Iza.
Thanks, Tracy. I look forward to hearing your verse!
A SPIDER SCOLDING
What’s this I hear about the spout?
Climbing up and washing out?
What did you think, you silly head?
The rain would wash you UP instead?
*Sigh.*
It’s true you may be itsy bitsy…
but I fear you’re also ditzy!
***
That’s all I’ve got!
Oh I love it, Renee! “What did you think, you silly head? The rain would wash you UP instead?” HAHA!
Birthday Dinner
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
climbed up the maître d’—
spun a tiny thread
and dropped in Iza’s tea.
She leaned in for a sip
and lost her dainty grip,
but not before the spider
smacked her on the lip!
Happy 20th Birthday Iza and Itsy!
Oh thanks a lot, Penny! Do you know that is my worst nightmare? A lip=smacking spider-oh horror of horrors! Teatime will never be the same!
GREAT poem!
spider so tiny
waterspout climbing danger
watch out for the rain
Hi Rosi! Thanks so much for stopping by, I LOVE your haiku!
One of my absolute favorite books! I’ve already bought three and gave them away… Congratulations on your twentieth anniversary in print.
Thanks so much, Phyllis! You might win another one. Write me a verse!:-)
Hi Iza,
My daughter encouraged me to include another ditty that she preferred and improved. So this is for Itsy Bitsy and Meghan:
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Oh, so sweet
with your eight little legs
and your microscopic feet.
I LOVE it! Thanks, Marie!
Iza…the biggest congratulations…20 years…1million copies…timely and timeless…a winning combination to be sure.
Here’s my thought:
THE ADVENTURES OF THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER IN WONDERLAND
The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed down the rabbit hole.
She landed on the head of a very scary mole.
She ate a piece of cake that Alice had forgot.
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider began to grow a lot.
The bigger that she grew, the smaller he did seem
So she shook herself and opened her eyes…phew…it was only a dream.
Iza…I know we all want to win one of those precious signed copies…if I don’t win…can we arrange to have you sign one that I buy? I am starting a collection of special signed picture books for my new granddaughter-to-be who is due in April.
I’m so sorry I missed this, Vivian! I LOVE your poem! Thank God it was only a dream- or it would be the Iggie Biggie spider!
I hope you win, but if not, absolutely, I would be honored to sign one for you! Thank you!
Congratulations, Iza! Tremendous accomplishment. (I so look forward top the day when I can celebrate just ONE book getting published!)
Here’s my version of Itsy Bitsy Spider…one which all three of my kids – the 18- and 21-year-olds as well as my 3-yr-old son – prefer to the original. (probably due to the accompanying hand motions like falling asleep and nose-tickling!):
Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up on (childs’ name)’s face.
(Child’s name) smacked it hard and the spider lost its place.
(Child’s name) fell asleep upon his cozy bed…
So the Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up his nose instead!
You will, Matt! I love your version. I can just hear the giggles!
Congrats, Iza, on your amazing accomplishment! Will I be seeing you at the Hudson and Albany (aka Cupcakes) festivals? Hope so. In the meantime, here’s my contribution:
The itsy bitsy spider
Befriended a slimy snail.
One sipped cider,
the other drank ale.
I must be thirsty!
Thanks, Nancy! Yes, I’ll see you at both- and I’ll try not to look at the cupcakes! But a little ale at Mexican Radio won’t hurt! See you then!
Happy Happy Belated Birthday Itsy Bitsy Spider!
Many congratulations Iza. We soooooo enjoy your books. But the Itsy Bitsy Spider is one of my favorite
Ok here’s my attempt at rhyming.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went south to Florida
Down on the sand she plopped her towel down
Out of a bag she pulls an umbrella
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider enjoyed her time in town.
Thank you so much, Pascale! Oh, I would love to join Itsy Bitsy on the beach- oops, I forgot- I’m afraid of spiders!
Itsy Bitsy Spider
sneaked onto a plane
She spun a web
from West to East
and spread abroad her fame.
20 YEARS! That rocks socks, Iza!
HAHA! Joanna, I love it!
The itsy bitsy spider
has been around a while
she climbed and she fell
and went the extra mile.
The itsy bitsy spider
will always makes us smile!
Happy Birthday, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Iza!
It took me a while to come up with a rhyme, Iza. Only for you!
Congratulations!!
Oh thank you, Dana! And you did a great job- perfect meter and a lovely sentiment! See, rhyming isn’t so bad
The isty bitsy spider looked for a friend
one that would be there until the very end
out came a girl that never mocks
and the itsy bitsy spider had a friend that rocks!
Very nice, Chriseni! Thanks!
Hi Iza. Wait til I tell my grandson that it has been 20 years. I always add little things to what you have written. Like: The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the yellow pail – cause she loved to play with the bubbles! Then I add when she completes her climb ‘I never quit!’ Also – Iza Jonathan thinks the little girl who is sitting under the Maple Tree is you and he always says Hi Iza! Our book is 12 years old and is a softcover. I noticed it is getting worn out. Even if I don’t win – I am going to try to talk him into getting a new one.
Hello Debby! Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I love that Jonathan says “HI Iza.” So adorable! I hope you win!
Congrats on 20 years!
(This from Fiona, age 11):
The itsy bitsy spider
Tried hard to Irish Dance!
But down came a hard shoe
And scared him out of his pants!
The itsy bitsy spider
Just didn’t know what to feel!
So he ran from the dance stage
All 8 legs doing a reel!
HAHA! I love it Ado! Please tell Fiona she did a great job! And thank you!
*~*Happy Birthday, Bitsy*~*
Isty bitsy spider looked down from a tree.
Shimmied down her thread and landed on a knee.
Ms. Moffitt saw her there, jumped up, and spilt her curd.
Bitsy tasted it and said, “Yuck! Oh my gerd!”
Oh Tracey, that is hilarious! Very clever! Thanks
The Itsy Bitsy spider
make the children smile
They read upon their parents’ laps
For just a little while…
Along came the birthday
of our favorite little bug,
20 years of story time
On laps all warm and snug.
Thank you for a wonderful book that we have shared many times over. At reading time with our own son and as a 4th grade teacher. I use your story when I teach synonyms. The kids and I read the story, and then we look up synonyms to replace the words….they love it! Happy 20th & congratulations.
How wonderful and sweet! And thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing my book with your son and in your classroom! It means the world to me.
The itsy bitsy spider peeked out from his dark hole,
He saw the snow and didn’t know where to go.
The spout completely covered, spider said “what shall I do?”
He looked around the house and chose to climb right up the flue.
Oh, this is bad, but it is snowing-hard, & Renee sent me over, Iza. Congratulations on your book’s anniversary! I know a granddaughter who would love the book, knows the rhyme of course!
It’s adorable- just don’t start a fire, Linda! Thanks so much!
Resolute spider,
not defeated by setbacks,
will achieve great heights.
Wow, Victoria, what an excellent haiku! Thanks so much!
Thanks, Iza, I am so excited! I’ll meet you at the Cupcake, er, Albany Children’s Book Festival…can’t wait for my copy of your anniversary book:-)
I am happy you won, Nancy! See you soon!
Yahooiieeeeeeeee, BBF! I cannot believe I won. That is one of your books I don’t have. I heart you from the bottom of my tippy toes to the top of my head.
Thanks, BBF!