Review #26: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Title: White, E.B. Charlotte’s Web. Harper Collins. 1950. Tr.$18.89. 184 pages. ISBN 978-0-06-026386-7
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Level: 4.4/ Grades 3-6
Awards: Newbery Honor 1953
Series: None
Similar Titles: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, Stuart Little by E.B. White

In a strange twist of fate, a young girl named Fern, saves a runt pig, whom she names Wilbur, from certain death. Raising him as a loving pet,  she soon learns that she must relocate Wilbur to her Uncle Zuckerman’s farm, where, despite Fern’s frequent visits, Wilbur finds himself in a daily battle to survive and keep himself from the chopping block and the Zuckerman’s Christmas dinner table.

With a whole host of talking barn animals, such as geese, horses, sheep and a surly rat named Templeton, Wilbur learns the hard facts of life and eventually befriends another outcast, a precocious spider named Charlotte, who is determined to save Wilbur’s life.  In an incredulous stroke of genius, Charlotte begins to spin short words and phrases into her web, to remind the Zuckerman’s, and the town, that this pig has value,  that he’s “terrific” and “humble”, and simply put,  “some pig,”  pig enough to go to the county fair.

This classic tale shows the unselfish, lifelong nature of true friendship and generous living as Wilbur shows his eternal gratitude for Charlotte long after she is gone, passing along her values and wisdom to the next generation and proving that once you have a friend, you are never alone.

There is a reason why E.B. White is considered one of the quintessential children’s writers of all time. His characters are realistic, yet fantastic, full and complex. Some are warm, some are hideous, all of them have faults but are redeemable. He never gives up on man (or animal) kind, showing them a crossroads and allowing the reader to sit in suspense to see if they will do the right thing, which in term makes them question their own motivesand behaviors.

 

Charlotte’s Web is an indelible part of every child’s life who reads it. A heartwarming tale such as this  should be savored and always, ALWAYS passed along. As a matter of fact, I passed on my older sister’s (and subsequently my) volume onto my daughter, who will learn to love Fern, Wilbur and Charlotte as much as I do.