Charlotte's Web

Today we're reviewing Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (illustrated by Garth Williams).

The Basics:

Published: First published in 1953

Length: 184 pages

Reading Level: Age 8-12 (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

"Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. "

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"I liked it when Charlotte's babies were born and I liked it when she wrote all those words in her web to save Wilbur's life."

My Thoughts:

This was our second book by E.B. White and I was relieved to find it to be a much more enjoyable read than Stuart Little, despite the author's tendency to ramble excessively at times. The illustrations are wonderful, the prose is lovely and the themes are complex, ranging from the concepts of unconditional friendship and loyalty to greed and mortality. Though much of the story focuses on the simple pleasures and ideals of childhood, this is also a tale of the sometimes harsh realities of farm life (and life in general). It is not unrealistic, as Wilbur's life is balanced on a knife-edge and it is only Charlotte's valiance and intelligence and the gullibility of humans that ensures his safety. Also true to life is Fern's ardent obsession with Wilbur which wanes as fern grows older and her interests shift to less childish things which, though honestly portrayed, annoyed me and made me like Fern less as the story progressed. Charlotte did, at times come off a bit condescending and as a know-it-all, but she was no less kind and charming for all that. Wilbur is sweet and endearing, but at times whiny. Templeton is easily relatable to real life, as well, as he does not experience any life changing epiphanies which prompt him to become less of a gluttonous grump. He's perfectly content to remain so for the whole of the story. The characters are multi-faceted which brings them to life and draws the reader into the story. Overall, it's easy easy to see why Charlotte's Web is considered a work of classic children's literature.

Read it or Leave it?:

Absolutely, read Charlotte's Web with your child! Enjoy the experience of  finding it together on your local library's shelf and bringing it home, or just go ahead and add this children's classic to your collection!

Let me know your thoughts about this book in the comments. Happy reading!