Chapter Book 2/Charlotte's Web

Title	Charlotte’s Web
Author	E.B. White
Illustrator	Garth Williams
Publication Year	1952
Awards	Newbury Honor
Publisher	Scholastic Inc.
ISBN	0-590-30271-X
Readability Score (GLE = Grade Level Equivalent)	Lexile	680L
	DRA	40
	GLE	4.9
	Guided Reading	R
Genre /      Sub-Genre	Chapter Book / Classics
Theme	Friendship
Primary Character	Mrs. Arable, Mr. Arable, Avery, Mr. Zuckerman, Mrs. Zuckerman, Lurvy
Secondary Characters	Fern, Wilbur, Charlotte
Classroom Use	I would use this book to discuss friendship, farm and ranch life, death, grief and loss.
Book Summary	Wilbur is the runt of a litter born to a pig on the farm of Fern Arable's father. When it is announced that her father is going to kill the pig, Fern rushes forth to save it. Her father spares the pig, but only if Fern agrees to care for it. Falling in love immediately with the little pig, she feeds him regularly with a bottle, and names him Wilbur. Wilbur is Fern's constant companion until he grows big enough to be transferred to his new home in the barn of Fern's neighboring uncle. Fern is able to visit Wilbur, but is unable to see him as often. Out of boredom, Wilbur begins to befriend other animals in the barn, who often patronizingly instruct the still naïve little pig in the ways of life. His most important friend, however, turns out to be a spider named Charlotte, who occupies a web in the corner of a doorway above him. Charlotte loves Wilbur and she is trying to find out a way to save his life so that the farmer will not kill him for meat. She decided to spin a web and write something in it. The farmer sees this and decides that the pig is a gift and treats him like a king. He enters him in a fair and wins a prize. Charlotte ends up dying and before she passes she lays a sack of eggs and Wilbur decides that he is going to take care of them. Wilbur sees several generation of Charlotte’s family and is friends will a few of each as time goes on.