Charlotte's Web

An excellent story for the young that deals with the very important themes of friendship, loss, and death.

Everyone needs a friend, even animals. Without friends we get lonely. Like Wilbur the pig, we need friendship to live a good life. Wilbur's life is good when he is with his human friend Fern. When she no longer comes to see him as much as she used to, Charlotte the spider becomes his friend and eventually saves his life.

This story also deals with death. Wilbur's death hovers over him even when he doesn't know about it. He is a pig. They are usually killed in the autumn to be food for others. He is saved by his friend Charlotte who writes messages about Wilbur in her web. Wilbur survives, but Charlotte doesn't. Charlotte dies a natural death of old age (for a spider). Wilbur is once more sad for the loss of his friend. However, Charlotte has left behind an egg sack that Wilbur protect. The baby spiders hatch and three stay behind to be friends with Wilbur.

This is a story with some heavy topics for young children. However, this story can be used to discuss the topics that some young children face, the loss of a loved one. The author, E.B. White makes these topics approachable for young children. It is a very enjoyable story.