Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Charlotte's Web and Other Illustrated Classics

Rate this book
For more than half a century, E. B. White's novel Charlotte's Web has charmed readers with its account of Charlotte, the resourceful spider, and the love and friendship she brings to her farmyard friends. Charlotte's Web and Other Illustrated Classics collects in a single volume all of E. B. White's classics for young readers, including Stuart Little, the story of an adventurous mouse boy born to human parents, and The Trumpet of the Swan, about Louis, the voiceless swan, who plays the trumpet to express himself. This volume features the classic illustrations of Garth Williams and Fred Marcelino.

Charlotte's Web and Other Illustrated Classics is one of Barnes & Noble's leatherbound classic editions. Each volume features authoritative texts by the world's greatest authors, in exquistiely designed bonded-leather bindings with distinctive gilt edging and an attractive silk-ribbon bookmark. Decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old, and are an indispensible cornerstone for every home library.

605 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 25, 2013

51 people are currently reading
3576 people want to read

About the author

E.B. White

192 books3,314 followers
Elwyn Brooks White was a leading American essayist, author, humorist, poet and literary stylist and author of such beloved children's classics as Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff of The New Yorker magazine. He authored over seventeen books of prose and poetry and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1973.

White always said that he found writing difficult and bad for one's disposition.

Mr. White has won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, which commended him for making “a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
10,635 (63%)
4 stars
3,982 (23%)
3 stars
1,662 (9%)
2 stars
324 (1%)
1 star
157 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for James.
Author 20 books4,385 followers
February 7, 2019
Charlotte's Web was selected as one of the young adult book's to read on the Children's Book Readathon I'm hosting on my blog this month. This classic by E.B. White has been seen countless times on television, but how many of us have actually read the book? This is my second read and review, but I'm glad to dive back in as you discover so much more the second time around. It also reminded me White wrote Stuart Little, too! I'd either never known or forgotten.

Death is not easy. Dealing with it as a child is painful. On a farm, there is death all the time. It's a natural process, but Fern is not ready to let her father slaughter a runt of a pig. Although she successfully convinces him to let her raise the pig, once Wilbur--her name for her new pet--is old enough to become food for others, she tries even harder to convince her father not to slaughter him. Wilbur gets a new home at Fern's uncle's place where they promise to keep him for a few months until they need to do something like potentially eat him! That's when Charlotte the spider comes along and weaves her magic to save Wilbur's life. From talking animals to life lessons, this classic is a treasure. I cry every time I see it on the television, and now I can say I've cried when I read it. Poor Charlotte... she's truly the epitome of a selfless creature.

White built perfection in this story. It's harsh but not cruel. It's sweet but not sappy. It's realistic yet fantastical. I adore it. Everyone should experience this first hand. I'm so glad it won the poll for our readathon.
Profile Image for Stephanie | Books_and_Steph.
372 reviews17 followers
May 14, 2015
I would have given this entire book 5 stars, but I was quite disappointed in one of the novels that was placed within it. This amazing book came with a collection of three E.B. Whites most famous books: Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. I have always loved the story of Charlotte's Web and still to this very day, I can remember every character and every chapter. It's such an amazing story that reflects on how friends and family really do come in small packages and that kindness and happiness is what everyone in the world is seeking for.

The Trumpet of the Swan was another reread for me as I had already read this book about 4 years ago with my son when he was in Kindergarten. I loved this sweet story then and I love it even more the second time I read it. It's a novel that will make you understand that no matter how hard life can be or what road blocks life throws in your way, that there is always a purpose and way to find what you're looking for. To never give up. To follow your dreams.

The third book was Stuart Little and still to this day I am baffled that this novel received any awards at all. I found the plot of the book was ridiculous and I got the impression that it was a book that was put together so quickly that the dialogue lacked empathy or any character building. And then it just ended. With nothing. I believe this story should have had much more at the end of the story. It was all honky dorry and wham-o......the end. Say what? Pointless book going to pointless places with a pointless ending. Blah!!
Profile Image for Jana.
1,419 reviews83 followers
March 30, 2016
Stuart Little: 4*
Charlotte's Web: 4*
The Trumpet of the Swan: 4*
Profile Image for Torri.
4 reviews5 followers
December 15, 2022
Remember that thin textbook, The Elements of Style? Well guess what? The author also wrote children's books and columns for the New Yorker!
Profile Image for Christine Woods.
320 reviews8 followers
May 4, 2015
This beautiful book is one of the many affordable Barnes and Noble Leather-bound Classics. I love collecting them! It contains three of E. B. White's stories. Stuart Little, the loved by all Charlotte's Web and The Trumpet of the Swan. I felt that all three stories taught that no matter how small, insignificant or defected a person may be there are ways to face the world and make something of yourself. Charlotte is great example of sacrifice and love for a friend.
Profile Image for Timons Esaias.
Author 46 books80 followers
July 7, 2018
In my interminably lengthy incarnation on this planet I have read various essays by E. B. White, I have read The Elements of Style repeatedly, I have read Is Sex Necessary? (Why did I focus on his collaborations???), but never, ever, had I read any of his three children's classics. They weren't in the house when I grew up. Nobody grabbed me by the collar and insisted I must read them.

So sad.

But finally I grew tired of reading references to Charlotte's Web without knowing what they meant, so I took me to the bookstore to buy it. This edition, containing Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, with lovely illustrations, was all that Barnes & Noble had that day, so that's what I bought.

Well, they're delightful, and clever, and I certainly see why they have stayed in print. What I especially like is the way he just slips the absurd premise across, as though it were perhaps odd, but certainly understandable:

In Stuart Little: When Mrs. Frederick C. Little's second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse. The truth of the matter was, the baby looked very much like a mouse in every way. He was only about two inches high; and he had a mouse's sharp nose, a mouse's tail, a mouse's whiskers, and the pleasant, shy manner of a mouse. Before he was many days old he was not only looking like a mouse but acting like one too--wearing a gray hat and carrying a small cane....
The doctor was delighted with Stuart and said that it was very unusual for an American family to have a mouse...
'Feed him up!' said the doctor cheerfully, as he left.

In Charlotte's Web: "I worry about Fern," she said. "Did you hear the way she rambled on about the animals, pretending that they talked?"
Mr. Arable chuckled. "Maybe they do talk," he said. "I've sometimes wondered. At any rate, don't worry about Fern--she's just got a lively imagination. Kids think they hear all sorts of things."
"Just the same, I do worry about her," replied Mrs. Arable. "I think I shall ask Dr. Dorian about her the next time I see him. He loves Fern almost as much as we do, and I want him to know how queerly she is acting about that pig and everything. I don't think it's normal. You know perfectly well animals don't talk."
Mr. Arable grinned. "Maybe our ears aren't as sharp as Fern's," he said.

In The Trumpet of the Swan: A few days after the swans arrived at their winter home on the Red Rock Lakes, Louis had an idea. He decided that since he was unable to use his voice, he should learn to read and write. "If I'm defective in one respect," he said to himself, "I should try and develop myself along other lines. I will learn to read and write. Then I will hang a small slate around my neck and carry a chalk pencil. In that way I will be able to communicate with anybody who can read." [Louis is a swan, btw.]
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,221 reviews26 followers
December 23, 2020
Classic that I reread much earlier this year, just trying to get the reviews in before January 1. hahaha.
Profile Image for Toni.
319 reviews6 followers
April 19, 2021
Fantastic book and one that is a true classic. I have read this book so many times. You will love the richness of the characters and the wholesome world that this book brings to life.
Profile Image for Sarah Jane.
47 reviews9 followers
November 19, 2024
Read this book for my Year 2 students novel study. Such a classic read ❤️
Profile Image for bella.
68 reviews
January 3, 2026
i am sad, ane content, and thats all i have to say. very good
10 reviews
April 18, 2024
I think this book teaches you to be grateful for what your family or relatives have done for you. But the main moral of this story is that it tells you that loyalty and friendship is the most important. Charlotte and Wilbur are true friends, and Charlotte works tirelessly to save her friend's life. Charlotte doesn't ask for anything in return. I felt very touched by Charlotte’s action of saving Wilbur’s life and not wanting anything in return. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for WriterRo.
108 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2024
"Charlotte's Web and Other Illustrated Classics" by E.B. White is a beautifully bound collection that brings together timeless tales of friendship, loyalty, and love. The leather-bound edition enhances the experience with its exquisite illustrations, making classics like Charlotte's Web even more enchanting. It's a must-have for fans of White's work and a wonderful keepsake for readers of all ages.
4 reviews
December 1, 2020
This book is outstanding. Everything about it is magical, and it delights readers everywhere. A little pig named Wilbur and his best friend, Charlotte the spider, save Wilbur from an untimely fate in the most brilliant way.
17 reviews
April 23, 2022
loved the book the main character is very sweet. This is the story of how little girl named Fern with the help of a friendly spider, Charlotte, and a somewhat sneaky rat called Templeton helped save her beloved pig ,Wilbur, from a very horrible fate.
Profile Image for Becky.
288 reviews17 followers
October 17, 2017
I love E.B. White. None of these books ever get old to me, but even though it is the least popular, I think The Trumpet of the Swan is my favorite.
Profile Image for sandra.
2 reviews
November 30, 2017
Hi am Logan Donaldson I go to st Martins primary school in Tranent please make a nother Charlotte's web again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
March 1, 2018
This book is awesome
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Roberta.
123 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2020
Second read in my lifetime. Adult
Cryed at the end when we read this in first grade.
1 review
March 13, 2022
I love this book because the end is happy but the beginning is sad
1 review
May 22, 2022
One of my most favorite books I've loved since I was a little girl! I've read it countless times!
I can never get enough of this story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.