By: Maya Lovria Early one morning, Fern Arable arises to see her father leaving the family house with an ax slung over his shoulder. He is on his way to get rid of a pig, more specifically, the runt of a new litter. She convinces him not to kill it, and he returns soon after with the baby pig. Fern names him Wilbur, raises him on a bottle, and treats him like her own child. Until one day, when her father tells her that Wilbur must be sold. Naturally, she is distressed, until she is told that she may call her uncle, Homer Zuckerman, to ask if he wants to buy the pig. Fern does, and he accepts. Wilbur is taken to the Zuckermans’ barn cellar, where Fern visits him almost every day, sitting on an old milk stool by the pigpen. Wilbur lives alongside barn animals such as the sheep, the goose, the gander, and even Templeton the rat, among other animals. Despite being visited by Fern, he is lonely and doesn’t have the one thing he really wants: a true friend. This problem is solved when he meets Charlotte the spider. She is kind, patient, and very good with her words. The days go by, and Wilbur is truly happy. He gets three meals of slop a day, a yard to run around in, a manure pile to lay in, and a friend to talk to. However, his blissful life changes when he finds out he is destined for slaughter. Wilbur is, understandably, very distraught, until Charlotte promises to save him. With the help of Templeton, and some of the other inhabitants of the barn cellar, Charlotte spins message after message into her web, completely changing the views of Mr. Zuckerman and the others, saving Wilbur’s life. Full of twists and turns, laughter and tears, this book is truly a masterpiece. About the Author: E. B. White (July 11, 1899 – October 1, 1985) was an American writer. He is the author of several popular books for children, including Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. In addition to being a writer, he was a contributing editor to The New Yorker magazine and a co-author of the English-language style guide, The Elements of Style. Sources:
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By: Maya Lovria
Hi there! Are you in one of the elementary grades and looking for something to read? Well, I would recommend Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord. Because of the Rabbit is an amazing book about a girl named Emma, who has been homeschooled her whole life, and is struggling to fit in at her new school. However, just before the start of the school year, she finds a little pet rabbit: Monsieur Lapin, or Lapi for short. Lapi is a tiny, honey colored baby bunny, who is named after a trickster rabbit from stories Emma’s grandfather used to tell her. As the school year goes on, she begs her parents to let her keep him, but they aren’t so sure. Meanwhile, at school, Emma is paired with a boy named Jack for a project. Emma’s not sure what to think about him. He’s nice, and he loves animals just as much she does, but he stands out. A lot. Emma wants to fit in, and she is worried that spending time with him will make her stand out even more. She’s already different from everybody else. For one thing, everybody has known each other for years, while it is her first year at a public school. Will hanging out with Jack and sitting with him at lunch keep her from becoming friends with other students? Now, the only good part of the day is spending time with Lapi after school, but just then disaster strikes. From a rabbit under a laundry hamper, to a nerve-wracking phone call, Because of the Rabbit will keep you on your toes, rolling on the floor, and begging for more! Read this page-turner to learn more about Emma, and her quest to keep her baby rabbit. |