HMH Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

2019

HMH Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

RRP: $29.99

Every now and again a book comes along in a completely serendipitous manner, taking you by surprise in its fabulous-ness. This is one of those books. I stumbled upon it browsing for new engaging biographies for our library collection, loved its cover art and of course, its subject matter – particularly as in 2022 our college play is to be Charlotte’s Web.

It was a delightful binge read last Sunday, relaxing at the beach, and everything about it filled me with delight. Sweet has researched thoroughly, spoken to Andy White’s remaining family, and compiled this exquisitely crafted montage of ephemera, photos, letters, and anecdotes along with her information. Every single spread is pure joy and offers the reader a visual feast that invites scrutiny and provides much pleasure.

Charlotte’s Web is one of those children’s books that is universally loved and often named by adults as their favourite. E. B. White’s other children’s books are also well-loved, yet how many of his legion fans know of his life-long career with The New Yorker, his collegial relationship with James Thurber and his marriage to a woman editor – a rarity in her time?  Certainly, his early life, the formative years of his childhood with summers spent at a lakeside cabin in Maine and his marital home there, which provided the inspiration for Wilbur’s barn were all unknown to me.

Melissa White is a Caldecott Medal winner herself and this book garnered a swag of significant accolades:

• A New York Times Bestseller
• Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award
• A People Magazine Best Children’s Book
• A Washington Post Best Book
• A Publishers Weekly Best Book
• Boston Globe–Horn Book Nonfiction Award Honor recipient

I love this book so much that I intend to buy myself a copy and there is no higher recommendation than that! It really is some book!