Charlotte’s Web: Childhood Books + Memories

Charlotte’s Web was my favourite book as a child, and recently I saw the 2006 movie of it. (Yes, a bit late!)

While watching the movie, I decided that I would write a blog post about this book, and also ask you:

What is your favourite childhood book? Why?

I’d love to hear about your faves in the comment section! If you cannot pick just one, that’s okay, too. Just share your thoughts and experiences with reading.

First, I’ll share mine, beginning with why I think Charlotte’s Web impacted me so much, and relate a favourite childhood memory of mine. I’ll then give you some background on both the plot summary and the author, too, as well as a few links to the book, the movies made, and some games and activities you (and the children you know) can play.

About Charlotte’s Web

Basically, Charlotte’s Web is a touching story about the friendship between Wilbur the pig and a spider named Charlotte, who saves Wilbur from slaughter by using her ingenuity to weave words in her web to capture the attention of the farmers and show the world what a wonderful pig Wilbur is.

Why I Love Charlotte’s Web

I have always loved reading and learning new words, and Charlotte’s Web made an impact on me for two particular reasons. Not only was it the first time I was exposed to the idea of death, but I learned many new words from Charlotte herself. One of these words was “Salutations!” (Charlotte greeted Wilbur for the first time using this word.) Another was “languish.” (When Charlotte was dying, she told Wilbur she was “languishing.”)

I think Charlotte’s Web was the first book to make me cry, too. When I watched the movie, I teared up as well. “Forlorn” was another word – included in this glossary – that I learned. I often felt sad and lonely as a child (although I didn’t tell anyone), and I think that I identified with Wilbur because of this. As a child, I was an introvert who didn’t talk about my feelings to anyone. (This is one of the reasons I want others to read Risky Issues – to help promote openness in children, teens, and young adults.)

Childhood Memories: A True Story

Watching the movie evoked memories of buying books at school via an order-form.

Once a month in elementary school, my classmates and I would receive some type of flyer from a book publisher that listed the different books we could buy. I looked forward to those days, and would rush home from school to show my mother the books that I wanted, having selected several both during class and on the bus ride home.

I always looked at the prices, too, as I knew my parents didn’t have a lot of money to spend, and so formed different proposals in my head, angling to get the two books I wanted the most (though I usually wanted four or five). Fortunately, my mom couldn’t resist my excitement or the pleading I did, and often gave in to my desires, only bargaining with me when my brother and sister, who attended the same school, wanted multiple books, too. As a former grade-school teacher and the woman who encouraged me to read and write at such a young age (she taught me to do both, including how to write cursive before I turned 6), I loved it when she granted me permission to fill out the order form myself!

After I totalled my order, she’d double-check to see that my siblings’ orders and the total were correct. She’d give me funds in the exact amount of the order, and I’d return to the school the next day (usually, unless she didn’t have the cash on hand) with money enclosed in a special sealed envelope.

Then the waiting began.

While I waited for the new shipment of books to arrive, I read the books that I had previously ordered. It didn’t take me long, though. So I used the library in the meantime.

It was hard waiting for the books I ordered, but when they came in the following month, along with a new order form, what an exciting day that was! Delivery day!

I can still remember sitting on the edge of my seat as the boxes that were brought to my classroom were unpacked.

As books were unloaded, names were called. I anxiously awaited my turn.

When I had my specially-ordered books in my hands, it felt like Christmas time did! I was thrilled!

I have to admit: I sure miss those days!

Once, I had obtained Charlotte’s Web through those book-order forms, too. 🙂

I still have my copy of that book, somewhere, believe it or not.

My mom also used to order books for us from Grolier, and they would be delivered monthly, too.

Aah, the memories!

I just shared this with my mom…

I just read this to my mom. She loved it! It made her both smile and laugh. She thought my writing was great, too. 🙂

Charlotte’s Web: Plot Summary

Wikipedia provides a great plot summary of this book:

After sparing the life of a baby piglet almost slaughtered due to his status as runt of the litter, a little girl named Fern Arable adopts it and nurtures it lovingly, naming it Wilbur. However, she is crushed when the piglet matures enough to be separated from his mother, and Wilbur is thus sent to reside on a farm owned by Fern’s uncle, Homer Zuckerman. Her powerful attachment to Wilbur mutual, the pig is left yearning for companionship but is snubbed by other barn animals. However, he is welcomed by an unseen voice who promises to befriend him, vowing to reveal itself to him in the morning. The voice is revealed to belong to a spider named Charlotte living on a web spun overlooking Wilbur’s enclosure. Knowing of Wilbur’s impending doom (as the Zuckermans plan on slaughtering him) she promises to hatch a plan guaranteed to spare his life. Sure enough, the following morning the Zuckermans are flabbergasted to catch sight of the words “SOME PIG” woven into the spiderweb, attracting great recognition and publicity. Understanding that Wilbur’s chances of survival will be strengthened if similar miracles were to occur, Charlotte employs the assistance of Templeton the barnyard rat in gathering labels as inspiration for her spiderweb messages. As time passes, more and more engravings continue to appear on Charlotte’s webs concerning Wilbur’s value, attracting increasing notoriety and publicity. Soon Wilbur is entered in the county fair, accompanied by Charlotte and the gluttonous Templeton, aware of the discarded foods littered along the fair grounds, and, while there, Charlotte spins an egg sac containing her unborn offspring—which she refers to as her “magnum opus”—that is heavily guarded by Wilbur. However, the pig is crestfallen when the spider notifies him of her impending death and mentions that she is to pass away before long, staying behind at the fair and dying after Wilbur’s departure. Heartbroken, Wilbur guards Charlotte’s egg sac, and is saddened further when the new spiders hatch and depart shortly after their birth, leaving behind three spiderlings too young to leave just yet. Pleased at the thought of finding new friends after Charlotte’s demise, Wilbur names the spiderlings Joy, Nellie, and Aranea, and the book concludes mentioning that more and more generations of spiders continued to arrive with time to keep Wilbur—who is now safe from death—company.

About the Author of Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web, written by famed American E. B. White (July 11, 1899 – October 1, 1985), was published in 1952, a few years after he wrote Stuart Little. To this day Charlotte’s Web remains one of the top 100 books for children. But what most people don’t realize is that, in real life, the author, Elwyn Brooks (“E. B.”) White had tried to save a pig, and failed.

A few years before Charlotte’s Web, White wrote an essay about caring for a dying pig at his farm. Even though White had raised the pig to make bacon, at the end he found himself desperately trying to save the pig’s life, “cast suddenly in the role of pig’s friend and physician.” ~ from Factmonster

Clearly, E. B. White was more than an author. He had a kind heart! He also became a famed individual who accomplished much in the literary world. He was a contributor to The New Yorker at a time when it was arguably the most important American literary magazine, and was a co-author of the English language style guide, The Elements of Style, which is commonly known as “Strunk & White.” He won  many literary awards and honours, too, for his substantial and lasting contributions to children’s literature, including the Pulitzer Prize, in 1978, a prestigious award coveted by writers from all walks of life.

Some interesting tidbits about E. B. White

He was a quiet man who disliked publicity. He served in the army before going to college, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1921. He married in 1929, lived a long life, and died at the age of  86 from Alzheimer’s disease.

E. B. White’s view on life and on sequels:

When his mother suggested that he write a sequel to Stuart Little, he wrote: ‘There is no sequel…A lot of children seem to want one but there isn’t any. I think many readers find the end inconclusive but I have always found life inconclusive, and I guess it shows up in my work.’ ~ from Gradesaver

 One man’s opinion of E. B. White:

 “He is the only writer of prominence I know of who could walk through the Algonquin lobby or between the tables at Jack and Charlie’s and be recognized only by his friends.” — James Thurber, E. B. W., Credos and Curios

Charlotte’s Web: The Movies

There have actually been 3 movies made, to date.

Charlotte’s Web – 1973 film

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  Charlotte’s Web – 2006 release

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  Charlotte’s Web 2: Wilbur’s Great Adventure (Copyright laws prohibit me from including an image to this movie here…)

Games to Play

As adults, we often forget what fun it is to be a child.

We spend time on Facebook or StumbleUpon to find things to lift our spirits and offer us an escape from the reality and stress of our lives.

Remember Hangman? Tic Tac Toe? Hopscotch? Double-dutch skipping? Tag?

While I cannot direct you to places to engage in all of these activities, I can invite you to play Hangman using characters and words from Charlotte’s Web! If you have young children (ages 4 – 7), a video game is available, too.

DID YOU KNOW…?

Charlotte’s Web is being sold on Amazon and on Barnes & Noble.

I’m sure other places sell it, although I think the price is similar all over.

While you’re shopping, you might want to pick up a copy of my book, Risky Issues, as well, as this book deals with issues of identity, friendship and death, too.  You can get it from Amazon or Google Play/Google Books, and learn more about it here.

Other Childhood Books + Your Turn to Speak!

So now that you know what my favourite childhood book was, it’s time to reciprocate.

What is your favourite childhood book? Why? Share your book titles in the comments!

And feel free to speak to one another, too, especially if you share the same book-love!

We’re all friends here. 🙂