Charlotte’s Web (1952) by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams, is a timeless children’s novel that explores friendship, sacrifice, and the cycle of life through the story of a pig named Wilbur and his savior, a wise and compassionate spider named Charlotte.
When Wilbur, the runt of the litter, is spared from slaughter by Fern Arable, he is sent to her uncle’s farm, where he befriends the barn animals—especially Charlotte. To save Wilbur from being butchered, Charlotte weaves miraculous words like “Some Pig” and “Terrific” into her web, turning him into a local sensation.
White’s prose is tender and humorous, tackling themes of mortality (Charlotte’s quiet demise) and legacy (her egg sac’s hatchlings) with grace. Williams’ iconic illustrations bring the barnyard to life, from Templeton the gluttonous rat to the earnest geese.
A masterpiece of children’s literature, Charlotte’s Web has been adapted into films, stage plays, and animated specials, but the book’s quiet magic remains unmatched.
For fans of: Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, or The One and Only Ivan (Applegate).
