What can be said about this classic that hasn't been said before? I re-read Charlotte's Web as part of a reading challenge which included going back to read a childhood favorite (actually, I listened to the unabridged audiobook, which was excellent). I'm happy to say that Charlotte's Web stands the test of time.

Most everyone is by now familiar with the beautiful story of friendship and Fern, Charlotte, and Wilbur. What struck me going back to reflect on the passages as an adult was how E.B. White weaves his love of nature so beautifully throughout the book. There are too many examples to include, but I'll just include a few that really stuck with me.

In one scene, a character remarks, "When the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle."

Also, "These autumn days will shorten and grow cold. The leaves will shake loose from the trees and fall. Christmas will come, then the snows of winter. You will live to enjoy the beauty of the frozen world...Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond. The song sparrow will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the warm wind will blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy, Wilbur -- this lovely world, these precious days..."

If you've never read Charlotte's Web, do yourself a favor an enjoy this beautiful book. If you have, read it again, or share it with a child.

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Writing: 4.5; Theme: 5.0; Content: 5.0; Language: 5.0; Overall: 4.5

When Wilbur (a pig) is told that his owner will end up turning him into bacon, a spider (Charlotte) helps build up the pig's name and reputation in order to change the perception of his owner. Highly recommend.

***May 25, 2024*** ( )

Pleasant, marginally subversive story about a little girl and a spider who save a pig. Some nice, mild jokes, and a charming storyline. However, seventy years on the cute farm setting and the stereotypical roles of the human characters are maybe getting a bit long in the tooth. Very much the rose-tinted childhood that Americans in the 1950s were already getting nostalgic about, a world where all the little boys were noisy and destructive and all the little girls thoughtful and sensitive. ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 3rd to 6th
Award: Newberry Honor in 1953
It has also won other honors and accolades over the years and has been included in multiple lists of
greatest children's books, showcasing its enduring popularity and impact on children's literature.

ages 8-12
The book "Charlotte's Web" has received several prestigious awards, including the Newbery Honor in 1953, recognizing it as one of the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children. ( )