Charlotte's Web

Apr 18, 2025 9:34 PM

Author:E. B. White,Garth Williams

Charlotte's Web

Puffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.

On foggy mornings, Charlotte's web was truly a thing of beauty . Even Lurvy, who wasn't particularly interested in beauty, noticed the web when he came with the pig's breakfast. And then he took another look and he saw something that made him set his pail down. There, in the centre of the web, neatly woven in block letters, was a message. It said: SOME PIG!

This is the story of a little girl named Fern, who loves a little pig named Wilbur - and of Wilbur's dear friend, Charlotte, a beautiful large grey spider. When Fern's uncle decrees that Wilbur must become bacon, Fern, Charlotte, Templeton the rat and all Wilbur's farmyard friends come up with an ingenious plan to fool the humans, and save their very special pig.

Joyful, funny, and deeply moving, Charlotte's Web is a story about the power of friendship, and celebrating what makes everyone special. It is rightly heralded as one of the greatest children's books ever written.

"E. B. White's writing is perfect... And Garth William's muted illustrations are entirely without fault. Whether read aloud or solo, this is a book well deserving of its 'classic' status." - The Children's Book Review

Reviews

An unusual and witty story which provides a gentle introduction to questions of mortality, Charlotte's Web is a modern classic.

—— BookTrust

From grammar to the tenderness in which this story is delivered, E. B. White's writing is so perfect... And Garth William's muted illustrations are entirely without fault. Whether read aloud or solo, this is a book well deserving of it's 'classic' status.

—— The Children's Book Review

An extraordinary story, exquisitely written, with unforgettable passages of dialogue and description, that confronts the dilemma of our relationship with farm animals. Witty, and in places, desperately sad this is a book where animals talk yet remain who they are, themselves. A book to make you cry.

—— Michael Morpurgo , Lovereading4kids

Absolutely stunning. A very sweet story with a touch of dark humour too. Wonderful. A fantastic book

—— Chris Haughton, author of 'A Bit Lost'

A beautifully illustrated fable

—— 'Gifts for Christmas 2017' , Guardian Bookshop

I love love love it, just beautiful

—— Millie Marotta, author of 'Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom'

I love it. A book to buy and treasure, for yourself or others.

—— Marion Deuchars, author of 'Let's Make Some Great Art' and 'Colour'

It's touching, lovely to look at, beautifully conceived and designed. Good for children, and busy grown-ups too

—— David Gentleman, author of 'London, You're Beautiful'

...exceptionally beautiful... A modern fable, with a timeless message to appreciate what we have before it is too late.

—— Fiona Noble , Bookseller, Children’s Preview

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