Charlotte's Web
2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Novels
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| Author | E. B. White |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Garth Williams |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's literature |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Released | 1952 |
| Media Type | |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-028298-3 |
Charlotte's Web is a children's book by acclaimed American author E. B. White, First published in 1952, it tells the story of a spider named Charlotte and her friendship with a pig named Wilbur. It was illustrated by Garth Williams.
Publishers Weekly lists the book as the best-selling children's paperback of all time (cited at ).
Plot
Eight-year-old Fern Arable saves a pig from being slaughtered by her father. She names him Wilbur and tends to him as if she was his mother until he becomes too big and moves to Mr. Zuckerman’s barn.
Charlotte, a spider, lives over the door near Wilbur’s pen. She befriends him and, by weaving words such as “Terrific“ and “Some Pig” in her web, tries to convince the Zuckerman family that Wilbur is so unique that he cannot ever be killed for food.
Characters
Wilbur
Charlotte
Fern Arable
Templeton
Mr. Arable
Mrs. Arable
Sales
Aside from its paperback sales, Charlotte's Web is 78th on the all-time hardback list. According to publicity for the 2006 film adaptation (see below), the book has sold more than 45 million copies and been translated into 23 languages. It is a Newbery Honours book for 1953, losing out to Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark for the medal.
Film adaptations
1973 version
The book was adapted into an animated feature by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Sagittarius Productions in 1973. The film, distributed to theatres by Paramount Pictures on February 22, 1973, is one of only two Hanna-Barbera features not based upon one of their television cartoons— Heidi's Song ( 1982) being the other—and was a moderate critical and commercial success. It is very true to the book.
2006 version
Paramount Pictures, with Walden Media, Kerner Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies, is producing a live-action/animated film, starring Dakota Fanning as Fern. It is scheduled for release on 20 December 2006. Special effects will be by Fuel International, Digital Pictures Iloura, Proof (studio), Rhythm and Hues Studios, Rising Sun Pictures, and Tippett Studio .
Video games
Sega has announced a video game based on the 2006 film, scheduled for release in Fall 2006 on PC, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. According to the press release, the game is being developed by "Backbone Entertainment, a division of Foundation 9 Entertainment."
The PC version of the game will be called "Charlotte's Web: Wilbur and Friends", and will feature nine mini-games based around the characters from the film. It is a title designed for young children, ages 4-7.
The DS and GBA games, both simply titled "Charlotte's Web", are action-platform titles. There are several mini-games in each; the DS version supports a 'Nintendogs' style pet simulator, which kicks in during every mid-level save point.
Both titles feature the voice of Dominic Scott Kay, the actor playing Wilbur in the motion picture.