talyakaplan

Annotation – When Wilbur, the lovable pig on Mr. Zuckerman’s farm, learns that he is fated to be eaten in the winter, it is up to his best friend, the wise spider Charlotte, to come up with a plan that will save his life. Review – Eight-year-old Fern is heart-broken to discover that the runt of a litter of piglets born on her family’s farm is to be killed. Appealing to her father’s sense of injustice, Fern manages to save the pig, who she names Wilbur, and lovingly nurse him to a healthy size. Soon, Wilbur is sold and moved to Mr. Zuckerman’s lively farm. Despite visits from Fern, which grow less frequent over time, Wilbur finds himself lonely when the other barn animals show little interest in being his friend - that is, until he meets Charlotte, a wise older spider who spins her webs near the barnyard door. Despite their differences in character, Charlotte and Wilbur form a fast friendship, and when it is discovered that the young Wilbur will be slaughtered for food in the winter, Charlotte devises a plan to outwit the humans and save her best friend. Author E.B. White, who also wrote the classic Stuart Little, has presented a story that illustrates the importance of loyalty, and shows us how friendship can literally save someone’s life. The inevitability of growing older and the circle of life is also a prevalent theme, with Wilbur just discovering the world as Fern begins to leave childhood, and Charlotte grows old. Appropriate for children aged seven to ten, this tale of friendship contains fresh vocabulary for newer readers (“salutations,” “sedentary,” “gullible”), and valuable lessons about kindness and humility for all readers.

2023-06-28 12:46