Rating: 
Summary: beautiful
Review: Natural History The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unwinds a thread of her devising:
A thin, premeditated rig
To use in rising. And all the journey down through space,
In cool decent, and loyal-hearted,
She builds a ladder to the place
From which she started. Thus I, gone forth, as spiders do,
In spider's web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken strand to you
For my returning. E. B. White, November 1929 As the poem Natural History, written some 23 years before Charlotte's Web indicates, EB White had a long fascination with spiders and their webs and the truth to be discerned in them. In fact, he was enamored of the natural world in general and his desire to be closer to the land led him to move to a Maine farm in 1939. It was in the farm life and specifically in the comfort of the barn that the inspiration for this children's classic came to him : As for Charlotte's Web, I like animals and my barn is a very pleasant place to be, at all hours. One
day when I was on my way to feed the pig, I began feeling sorry for the pig because, like most
pigs, he was doomed to die. This made me sad. So I started thinking of ways to save a pig's life. I
had been watching a big grey spider at her work and was impressed by how clever she was at
weaving. Gradually I worked the spider into the story that you know, a story of friendship and
salvation on a farm. From these humble beginnings he wove an enduring tale of love and loyalty, life and death, and, perhaps unnoticed by most of us until adulthood, of the comic ingenuousness of man, and of the value of knowledge and a big vocabulary. White, renowned as an essayist, wrote so clearly and fluidly that the pages whiz by. And if you get a chance to listen to the audio version that he reads himself, it is the performance of a master storyteller. Though a native New Yorker (Mt. Vernon anyway), White had by then picked up the rhythm and accents of a New Englander. In addition, he tells the story with apparent affection for his creations, love of the barnyard, and amusement at the goings on. I was trying to figure out what made it all so magical and then I found this quote in which he described his own work (What Am I Saying To My Readers He ?, May 14, 1961, NY Times) : What am I saying to my readers? Well, I never know. Writing to me is not an exercise in addressing
readers, it is more as though I were talking to myself while shaving. My foray into the field of
children's literature was an accident, and although I do not mean to suggest that I spun my two
yarns in perfect innocence and that I did not set about writing "Charlotte's Web" deliberately,
nevertheless, the thing started innocently enough, and I kept on because I found it was fun. It also
became rewarding in other ways--and that was a surprise, as I am not essentially a storyteller and
was taking a holiday from my regular work. All that I ever hope to say in books is that I love the world. I guess you can find that in there, if
you dig around. Animals are part of my world and I try to report them faithfully and with respect. He succeeded quite brilliantly in the task he set himself. I know of no work of literature by any author that better expresses respect for animals and love for the world. GRADE : A+
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Charlotte's Web is about a young girl named Fern who becomes friends with the animals on her uncle's farm. She becomes very good friends with a little pig named Wilbur, who is going to be slaughtered. Wilbur soon becomes friends with a spider named Charlotte who starts writing words into her web about Wilbur to try and save his life. This was an excellent book and I recommend it to everyone who loves animals.
Rating:
Summary: Read it even if you don't have children.
Review: One of the best reasons for having children is having an excuse to read Charlotte's Web. I just finished reading it to my youngest child, and cried just as hard as a did when I first read it to her brother a decade ago. The story is about a spider who saves a pig from being turned into bacon and pork chops by weaving words to describe him into her web, convincing everyone that a miracle has occurred, and that there must be something very special about this pig. Charlotte, the spider, is kind, noble, and brave ' a model of perfect friendship. Wilbur, the pig, is childlike and innocent at the beginning, but he grows wiser under Charlotte's influence throughout the book. The book is beautifully written in simple, graceful language. It's just a pleasure to read from beginning to end. There is one thing that anyone planning to read the book to a young child ought to know. At the end, after laying her eggs, Charlotte dies. I had actually forgotten about that when I started reading the book to my 6-year-old recently, and when, halfway through the book, I remembered, I was a little worried about what her reaction would be. But as I got closer and closer to Charlotte's death, I realized how skillfully E.B. White handled the scene. For a couple of chapters before, you see Charlotte growing weaker and weaker. My daughter kept moving closer to me, sensing, I'm sure, that something was wrong. Charlotte's death doesn't come as a shock. Even a kindergartner seemed to sense that it was coming. More important, in the scene after Charlotte dies, Wilbur guards her eggs until her babies are born, and while most of them fly away, three baby spiders stay behind and become his friends. He's able to guide them the way Charlotte guided him, which gives a wonderful sense of continuity. I don't think Charlotte's death is a reason not to read the book to a child, but I think if you're planning to read it to a child under 8 or so, you should read it to yourself first to be sure your child is ready for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, not great
Review: Fern loves Wilbur, the pig that her dad might kill because he's so small. Fern convinces her father to let her keep the pig, until he is sent to live on a farm close by. Fern visits him there, but from then on, it's about Wilbur. Wilbur can talk. He makes friends with a spider, Charlotte. When Wilbur is to be killed for ham and bacon, Charlotte discovers a plan to save him. Good book, not great, unless you LOVE animals.
Rating:
Summary: Fainting Pig
Review: I liked this because it was exciting. You never knew what would happen next. You had no idea how Charlotte the spider was going to save Wilbur the Pig. I thought it was funny when Wilbur tried to make a web because he was a pig! The author was good at describing things, especially how the air felt when you were on the swing in the barn. You should read this book because it is a love book. Wilbur and Charlotte really stood up for one another. Charlotte saved Wilbur and he saved her egg sac.
Rating:
Summary: Spinning a Web of Character
Review: E.B. White has written a wonderful children's book that is very entertaining and equally educational. The length and level of comprehension needed makes it appropriate for ages seven to nine. There are several life lessons the reader can learn throughout the story, which also reflect lessons that the Bible teaches, such as humility and servanthood. While children are being greatly amuzed at this humorous storyline, they are also learning valuable lessons about life, which is why it is unforgettable. The use of personification of the barn animals is the most effective source of humor: the goose cheers for "Wilbur", who is the pig trying to escape from the barn; the sheep talk as if the farmers are "plotting a murder" to kill "Wilbur"; "Wilbur" does a back twist in the air; and "Charlotte", who is the talking spider, states that, "People are not as smart as bugs!" It is hillarious! The barn animals are also experiencing human emotions, which help children to relate to them, such as loneliness, anger, satisfaction, joy, and love. It is a roller coaster storyline that keeps children very attentive! Also, equally impressing are the life lessons that White implements throughout the animals' lives. "Wilbur" realizes that what is truly important in life is not that he is the most popular, talented, or best looking, it is the satisfaction of having one true friend to share his life with, who is "Charlotte". "Wilbur" and "Charlotte's" humility and servanthood create a wonderful friendship. This definitely will teach children to be humble and to treat others as they would want to be treated, while not being too proud or self-seeking like "Templeton", who is the selfish rat. This is also taught in the Bible, when Jesus states, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). Through "Wilbur" not viewing himself as "terrific", but still becoming famous and "Charlotte" saving "Wilbur's" life without due recognition, children will learn that being humble and serving others is not always the way the world desires us to act, but it is the most rewarding way to live. White is also very informative about spiders: the seven sections of their legs and how they spin a web, which is very educational. It is very interesting when "Dr. Dorian" states that just a spider's web, even without words inscribed in it, is a miracle. God created every animal and insect, which are true miracles, and it is great that E.B. White points that out. I found no weaknesses throughout this story. This is a book I highly recommend for young children. Through the use of much humor and implementation of valuable character traits that reflect who God wants His children to be, this story is one that children will treasure forever.
Rating:
Summary: Charlottte's Web
Review: One of my favorites. The first chapter book that I ever read. This book is about a pig named Wilbur and his friend, Charlotte the Spider, who saves him from being butchered. Because of Charlotte's help not only is Wilbur's life saved but he also becomes famous. This is such a touching story!
Rating:
Summary: Charlotte's Web
Review: I rated this book a four out of five. Because I liked how the author told the story with the animals talking and the sad ending. This is probually one of my favorite books I have ever red. I strongly advise people to read this magnificent book.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic introduction to chapter books
Review: We read Charlotte's Web very early - my son was four. Since that's a good deal younger than the suggested age, I thought some of you might want to know that if you want to get started reading chapter books with your young children, give this one a try. Mine was enthralled the whole time.
Rating:
Summary: Charlottes Web-VR
Review: I read this book in the third grade, and through the years it has always been one of my favorites. This book reminded me of how important true friendship is and it made me appreciate alot of the friendships in my life.
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