| ""Where's papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast..." (from the first line) An affectionate pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, White reminds readers to open their eyes to the wonder and miracle found in the simplest of things. A special color edition on high quality paper.
Annotation:
A timeless story of friendship, growth, death, and acceptance, CHARLOTTE'S WEB was E.B. White's second children's book. It tells the story of a pig named Wilbur, the runt of his litter, who is saved from an untimely death by Fern Arable, a spunky eight-year-old farmer's daughter. Hand-raised by Fern, Wilbur grows into a healthy young pig that Fern sells to her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, a farmer who lives nearby. Each day Fern lovingly visits with Wilbur, but her role as his best friend and nurturer is soon taken over by Charlotte, a wise spider who also lives in the barnyard. When Wilbur learns that he is being fattened up for slaughter, his despair moves Charlotte to promise him that she will do all she can to protect him from this fate. A no-nonsense but compassionate arachnid, Charlotte finds a unique way to let the world know that Wilbur is worthy of saving because he is indeed "SOME PIG." ||Best known as a contributor to The New Yorker and co-author of the writers' guide THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, E.B. White was inspired to write CHARLOTTE'S WEB by his own experiences as a gentleman farmer. CHARLOTTE'S WEB reflects his usual meticulous attention to detail, particularly in terms of Charlotte, who, despite having the ability to speak, is depicted in a realistic, almost scientific, manner. A true classic, CHARLOTTE'S WEB has helped several generations comprehend the concept of death and embrace the circle of life.
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Praise(unknown)
"[STUART LITTLE and CHARLOTTE'S WEB] appear to be headed for literary immortality in our times...The continuing and almost universal response of children...is the real tribute to the genius of E. B. White." - Chair, 1970 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award Committee(unknown)
"One of the most universally acclaimed books in contemporary children's literature...The author brings in wisdom and pathos in developing his theme of friendship within the cycle of life." - Jim Trelease New York Times Book Review
"The book has liveliness and felicity, tenderness and unexpectedness, grace and humor and praise of life, and the good backbone of succinctness that only the most highly imaginative stories seem to grow....As a piece of work it is just about perfect, and just about magical in the way it is done....an adorable book." - Eudora Welty 10/19/1952 |
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