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Review of Charlottes Web

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Review of Charlotte's Web ‘Charlotte's Web' by E. B. White was first published by Hamish Hamilton in 1952. It is a classic children's novel which won the 1970 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (Amazon). It is beautifully written with a great mix of seriousness, excitement and comedy. Even though this book is now over fifty years old it is still a wonderful book for children as its main themes of friendship and hope will always be current. The story is about Wilbur, a runty farm yard pig, who is saved from death by Mr Arable's eight year old daughter, Fern. Fern cares for and loves Wilbur as if he is a pet but eventually has to ironically send him to suffer another fate of death on Mr. Zukerman's farm. Fern remains a main character who …show more content…

There are only a small number of illustrations but these add character to the story. It is very well written books with one of the best first lines in any book I have ever read: "'Where's Papa going with that axe?'" (page 1) It gives very realistic images of what is going to occur and grabs the readers' interest immediately. This is the first threat of death for Wilbur but, interest is maintained as the threat continues and Wilbur's naivety and innocent make him a character that you want to see saved. As well as the main characters the other characters also help to maintain interest. Comedy comes from the geese and the rat, Templeton. Templeton is a greedy hoarder who the other animals distrust and, who wouldn't do anything for anyone without something in return. However, without his help Charlotte wouldn't have been able to save Wilbur. This teaches you that although you might always want to do something, when it helps others you should do, yet another simple message in the story. The geese are noisy and talk in a repetitive way, for example: ‘"….toasty-oasty-oasty warm…"' (page 35) and, ‘"I'm no flibberty-ibberty-gibbet…' (page 35). White includes two children Fern who is eight years old and can hear what the animals are saying and, her brother Avery who is ten years, and is very ladish helping to make the story

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