Charlotte's Web-Chapter Book # 1

Author: E.B. White
Title: Charlotte's Web
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Readability Score: 4.9
Theme: true friendship goes a long way
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Fantasy
Primary and secondary characters: Primary characters: Charlotte, Wilbur, Fern and secondary characters include: Fern's brother, Fern's parents, the animals on the farm
Awards: Newbery Award Winner
Publishing Company: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: 1952
ISBN: 9780064400558
Summary: This book is about a little pig named Wilbur who was born a runt into the Arable's farm. Mr. Arable makes the decision to kill Wilbur because he will never amount to anything because he is so small. Fern is shocked that he would do such a thing, so she agrees to take care of him and help him grow up with the permission of her parents. Fern falls in love with Wilbur as they develop a friendship on the farm. However, a time comes when Wilbur is big enough to be moved to a new home on Fern's uncle's farm. She visits him a lot, but she is also growing older so she has more priorities. Wilbur tries to make friends with the other animals on the farm, yet he is still considered to be the "little pig" in his ways of thinking about life and with Fern. Wilbur's most important friend he makes is Charlotte, who is the spider that lives in the doorway above him. When Wilbur hears of the farm's plans to make him a Thanksgiving dinner, he creates a plan with Charlotte to save him. Together they come up with creative ways to help Wilbur remain on the farm with his friends. Their friendship is the most significant part of the book as Charlotte, a loyal friend, helps to save Wilbur's life.

This book is a classic and it contains many elements of friendship, loyalty, and accomplishing your dreams. Students can begin in book clubs discussing the characters qualities, how friendship plays a part in the book, and also discuss the themes of what they think the book contains. Students can also see that even though Wilbur was born a runt and he, "would never amount to anything", that he defied everyone's odds and was a great character in the end who accomplished a lot.