Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan

This cheeky picture book debut from author-illustrator Jess Hannigan tells the darkly dry and utterly hilarious tale of fibs, cons, and JUSTICE! Perfect for fans of Jon Klassen, Ryan Higgins, and stylized cinema-from Orson Welles to Wes Anderson.

Breaking News: Wishing Well Broken! 12px; font-weight: 400">The townspeople of Bad Goeodsburg are up in arms. With their beloved well busted, none of their important, generous, kindhearted wishes are coming true! Time to send that good-for-nothing Newsboy to investigate. . . .

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"I don't trust anyone in this book." -Jon Klassen, award-winning creator of I Want My Hat Back

"A fun read for children, but also for their adults. A well-loved classic. Will be great fun to share." cheeky storybook technically an entertaining endorsement of blackmail? and it's very funny. A splendidly silly story for all ages." -ALA Booklist (starred review)

"Dramatic pacing and sly humor. Terrific fun with a shrewd hero." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Review: "Don't worry, everybody. Jess Hannigan is here, and she's really, really good at making books. Spider in the Well is beautiful, expertly told, and I don't trust anyone in it at all. It's amazing." - Jon Klassen, award-winning creator of I Want My Hat Back "I love Spider in the Well. The story unfolds like a hilarious, modern German fable. It's like if Tomi Ungerer and James Marshall came together and combined The Three Robbers with Bumps in the Night." - K-Fai Steele, creator of A Normal Pig "[A] fun read for children, but also for their adults. This is a masterful debut that reads like a well-loved classic. Will be great fun to share."? - School Library Journal (starred review) "Dramatic pacing and sly humor. Terrific fun with a shrewd hero." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "A wonderfully weird and darkly droll tale about a newsboy dispatched to the town's wishing well who discovers a spider, piles of gold coins, and a web of fibs. The striking, bold block-print-style artwork makes a splash." - Quill & Quire "In a folkloric-feeling work with a bit of bite, Hannigan makes a splendid picture book debut." - Publishers Weekly "Stellar." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "A twist conclusion sees the put-upon protagonist seizing his opportunity-and then some, thanks to a little blackmail and extortion." - Horn Book Magazine

Prizes: Winner of Kirkus Reviews Best Books (United States) and ALA Notable Children's Book (United States) and School Library Journal Best Book (United States).