perhaps a perfect book. (5 stars)

from aug 2021:
how did i never actually read this before? i'm so enjoying these middle grade books that i get to read with my kid, and this one was no exception. i loved it. this was a beautiful story, and it was written so well. i always assumed this was more a story about a girl and her pig, but it turns out i was made to relate to and appreciate a spider, something that is no small feat. the public may have been led to believe that wilbur was some pig, and sure he seemed awfully lovable, but charlotte was really some spider. what a wonderful story of friendship and standing up for/protecting your friends. and it's written so well. all of the animals and all of the people are so relatable. i loved this. (4.5 stars) ( )

I couldn't finish this book and don't understand why everyone else thinks it is so great. And also - ew?spiders! ( )

“Life in the barn was very good- night and day, winter and summer, spring and fall, dull days and bright days. It was the best place to be, thought Wilbur, this warm delicious cellar, with the garrulous geese, the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure, and the glory of everything.”

This is one of the few children's books I currently own in traditional book form and I must admit I enjoyed the feeling of crisp paper between my fingers.

While the sweet story of a pig's unlikely friendship with a spider remains a perennial classic for kids, it also is appealing to adults. I had forgotten how much science and arachnid anatomy was incorporated into the story. White also gets in a few 'digs' at us humans. “Trust me, Wilbur. People are very gullible. They'll believe anything they see in print.”

I cannot fail to mention Garth Williams adorable but mostly realistic illustrations. It would be difficult to imagine the story without the accompanying drawings.

Original date of publication: 1952
Newbery Medal Nominee ( )

This is a beautiful but super sad story about love and friendship.

I read this book way back in my elementary school days, but I wanted to re-read it as an adult to see if it held up. I also stumbled across a copy in one of my closets while I was cleaning, so it seemed natural.

I will say this is truly a classic. It has aged so well and it still fits today's society. A little pig who loves his human friend and then makes friend with a spider. Her natural life cycle goes through, and he wants to love and protect her, and her children. It's so tender, so sweet and so utterly heartbreaking. It shows the true power of friendships and love. Life can be so short, so we might as well be kind to people.

It's a well made story and I'm so glad I read it again. It truly was a real treat! I can see why school curricula pick it up. It definitely didn't get the best treatment in my learning, but it will have all of my love and respect now.

I definitely feel this is a book you should pick up once as a kid and then once as an adult. The themes stay the same but your viewpoints will change. I used to relate so much to Wilbur, but as an adult I feel so much for Charlotte.

Ah, so beautiful.

Five out of five stars. ( )

I don't often read children's literature. The last children's book I read would have been The Secret Garden, which I read before I got on Goodreads (in 2011, according to my "read" list). However, every now and again it's nice to dip into something completely different. I say all this just to give some context to the review, not because I think my reading habits are fascinating.

My recollection of reading Charlotte's Web as a child was mostly around the exquisite sadness and poignancy of the ending, and I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed. There's a lovely, satisfyingly sentimental tone which I can remember basking in as a child. I think when you're a child the passage of time is both exciting and sad, which if you're in a particular mood can tinge everything with a melancholy that is quite lovely. Think of bittersweet golden summer afternoons, which you know will soon make way for autumn and a return to school (even though you quite liked school).

Anyhoops, this book has that, but it's also well-written and fun. The book is quite funny at times, particularly in the scene when Wilbur is shoved in to the crate to be taken to the fair. The book is very nicely structured, too. Not much really happens, and yet there's always a sense of purpose and progress. I usually struggle to connect with books featuring talking animals, because the internal ethics usually get pretty convoluted or arbitrary - "wait, so rabbits are conscious but foxes aren't?" However, this book deals with that so well, it's easy to suspend disbelief. The animals don't just start chatting at the beginning, but are gradually allowed to say more and more. By the time Fern was able to talk to animals, I was sufficiently invested in the story that I was willing to make the imaginative leap. Plus, the ethics are not simplistic - death exists and Charlotte has to justify her role as a bringer of death. Regardless of whether Charlotte's justification is good or not, it's sufficient for the story and it doesn't feel that the reader is being asked to just throw up their hands and believe anything.

Anyway, if you only read one children's book this decade, you could do worse than this one. ( )