Reason for Reading: Read aloud to ds.
I'll keep this one short. There must be thousand's of reviews
already of this modern classic. The edition that I have is the
hardcover reprint with the gently colourized original illustration
by Rosemary Wells, a beautiful book and a keeper for my personal
library. This was my first re-read since my original reading as a
child and it struck me again as being a wonderful book so full of
feeling, even though I'd seen the cartoon movie year after year as
a child. I was surprised that Fern wasn't really that big a part of
the story as I had expected her to be and Templeton was all Paul
Lynde to me. I heard his voice every time he spoke!
This was my son's first exposure to Charlotte's Web. I've kept him
away from the new version of the movie purposely until we'd read
the book and the animated version just doesn't show up on TV like
it used to. I wouldn't say say he absolutely loved it. He didn't
cry are feel bad at the end, at all. It was very much "c'est la
vie" for him. But he did laugh at all the funny parts and enjoyed
Wilbur as a character the most. Oh, and the geese, he loved their
double talk! So he enjoyed the book and we've got a hold on the
animated movie version at the library to watch and will watch the
newer real life version if he's interested afterwards for
comparison. (I personally do not like talking animal movies). For
myself it was a great enjoyment to re-acquaint myself with the
original book and remember why E.B. White was such a beloved
children's author. Why did he have to leave us with only three
children's books, though?? That is the sad part. The Trumpet of the
Swan is still my favourite of the three.