I remember loving Charlotte's Web as a child. I truly adore reading E.B. White. His simple style just flows out so smooth and steady, creating an easy and enjoyable read.
As I was reading Charlotte's Web aloud to my 7 and 9 year old, I knew the chapter where Charlotte dies was coming. I worried that it might be upsetting to my animal-loving children and seeing me cry would make them start crying and we would have a cryfest and never get to the end of the book. As I approached the chapter, I steeled myself. Then, I reach the paragraph and start to tear up. Hold it together. As I'm reading about Charlotte dying, I start to struggle with my words, slowing the pace, trying to just get through it.
My 9 year old looks up and asks, "Are you crying?"
I reply, "Yes. It's so very sad. Charlotte was such a good friend and spider."
My 7 year old daughter then takes the book from me and takes over reading for me; reading the next two chapters with complete composure. After we finish the book, we watch the movie during lunch to compare the two. When she dies in the movie, my 9 year old checks on me to see if I'm crying. I'm thinking, how on earth am I going to get through all of these children's books that seem designed to make you cry?!? I guess we all better get used to it because we have so many books to read!
Upon finishing, my daughter asked if she could take the book up to her room to read again on her own. Of course you can, I know you'll love it as much as I did.
