Spins a Web is a Magic School Bus TV tie-in book that's based on the episode of the same name.
Plot[]
Ms. Frizzle and her class are watching an old horror movie "Stand by your Mantis (1953)". However both Carlos and Phoebe aren't enjoying it. Carlos doesn't like insects (and especially spiders), and Phoebe is upset of how unrealistic the movie is; especially about the military trying to kill the Mantis instead of capturing it. This prompts Ms. Frizzle to take the kids inside of the movie. However after General Araneus, accidently eject the class from the bus they kids find themselves shrunk to the size of a piece of popcorn. The kids must find a way back into the movies to save Liz from become Mantis bait. Join the class as they embark in this web spinning adventure.
Differences from T.V. Show[]
- When Phoebe catches the little spider in the bus she briefly teases Carlos' fear [arachnophobia].
- The part where Phoebe makes a web to catch General Araneus [but ends up getting tangled in it herself] is cut from the book.
- The classes doesn't groan "Carlos" when he makes his pun.
Trivia[]
- The movie "Stand by your Mantis (1953)" is probably a reference to a real monster movie about a giant mantis, The Deadly Mantis (1957) by Universal Studios.
- It also could have been inspired by the giant mantises (known as Kamacuras) in the Godzilla movie Son of Godzilla (1967)
Gallery[]
Phoebe teasing Carlos