Charlotte's Web - DVD

Jordan Kerner, Producer. Charlotte’s Web. Walden Media/Nickelodeon Movies/Paramount Pictures, 2007. ISBN 1-4157-2912-3

Plot

A little girl named Fern decides that she will care for the runt of a litter of newborn pigs. She calls him Wilbur. When he grows too large to be a pet, he goes to live at the Zuckerman’s farm. Charlotte, a spider, lives in the barn on the farm. She and Wilbur become friends. When it becomes clear that Wilbur is being fattened up to be eaten, Charlotte decides to show everyone that Wilbur is too special to become bacon. She spells out “some pig” in her web. Wilbur becomes famous, and so he is entered in a fair. Charlotte goes, too, and while she is at the fair she produces her egg sac.

Critical Evaluation

This classic story has been made into a family and child-friendly film. Dakota Fanning is adorable as Fern. The computer animation used to give the animals the ability to talk and do other “human” things is great. It makes the movie fun to watch. More importantly, it gives kids and their families a reason to think about the importance of all living beings. Every living thing is “terrific” like Wilbur and deserves respect.

Annotations

Wilbur is saved from the smokehouse when a friendly spider named Charlotte tells the world that he is “some pig.”

Author

E. B. White wrote the book on which the movie is based. The book is an enduring classic which was published in 1952. He is also the author of Stuart Little.

Genre

Fiction – life on a farm

Curriculum Ties

Language arts – animals as characters

Booktalk Ideas

None.

Viewing Level/Interest Age

Grade 3 (age 8) and up.

Challenge Issues and Defense

None.

Why is it here?

Charlotte’s Web is one of my favorite stories. I liked the movie almost as much as the book.