A book that’s a well-known household name and was a favourite for many during childhood has been getting rave reviews online. Charlotte’s Web is a children’s novel by E.B. White that tells the story of Wilbur, a pig who is saved from slaughter by a young girl named Fern. When Wilbur grows up and is sent to a farm, he befriends a clever spider named Charlotte.
To save Wilbur from being killed, Charlotte writes messages in her web, such as “Some Pig” and “Terrific,” to convince the farmer of his worth. The story explores themes of friendship, loyalty and the cycle of life.
On Goodreads, Charlotte’s Web takes top spot on a list titled: “Favourite Books from my Childhood” with over 1700 readers voting for the book as their childhood favourite.
It has over 970,000 five-star reviews, one reader wrote: “One of the great tear-jerkers of my long-lost childhood, the unlikely friendship between a spider and a pig makes for wonderful reading and a shared moment of love when reading it to kids.
“It is tender and teaches the values of constancy and integrity in a light, beautiful prose. A classic and a masterpiece.”
Another penned: “Another classic read with the kids! I love reading to them – they enjoy a chapter every evening and it gives us some good, quality family time.”
Elwyn Brooks White was a leading American essayist, author, humorist, poet and literary stylist and author of such beloved children’s classics as Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff of The New Yorker magazine.
He authored over seventeen books of prose and poetry and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1973.
The book was adapted into a hit film in 2006 with Fern Arable played by Dakota Fanning.
One person who watched the film said on Letterboxed: “This classic tale lends itself really well for this kind of live action film and it is done beautifully.
“Especially the voice acting, which is never good in Dutch dubbed versions, was of the highest order.
“But what makes me so generous in my rating is the warmth this film emanates that completely rubbed off on my daughter.
“This was for her a film that made her laugh and cry and ended up giving her a huge grin on her face.”