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Annotation: Wilbur, a young pig, relies on his best friend, a magical spider, to save him from his barnyard fate: Getting turned into bacon. Review: For contemporary teachers and librarians recommending Charlotte’s Web, the question is: Can this mostly quiet, 57-year-old novel about a barnyard microcosm appeal to tech-savvy, sophisticated urban children who’ve never stepped foot on a farm? The answer is an emphatic yes, with hardly a twinge of nostalgia. Eight-year-old Fern adopts a runt pig she names Wilbur, who soon moves to a barn on the nearby Zuckerman farm. There, Wilbur befriends Charlotte, a loquacious grey spider who can weave words into her web, a power she uses to try to save Wilbur’s life. The popularity of this 1953 Newbery Honor book – the top award went to the lost-in-obscurity Secret of the Andes – endures for several reasons. Without ever talking down to readers, White introduces children to universal themes, such as fighting for justice (Fern, staying her father’s ax); friendship (Charlotte’s patient devotion to the imperfect Wilbur, and his love for her in return); society (the barn’s social dynamics and secondary characters are as fully limned as those of the human families); and, finally, death (handled in a powerful, yet matter-of-fact, manner). Aided by Garth Williams’ charming black-and-white drawings, the author blends magical realism with characters who feel as familiar as one’s neighbors. In the end, however, it remains a favorite because it is the most beautifully written children’s story, ever. Ages 7-11.

2020-08-20 12:02