I was listening to NPR recently and heard that a favorite childhood classic, Charlotte’s Web, is celebrating its 60^th birthday this month. In “The New York Times” from October 19^th, 1952, Charlotte’s Web was reviewed by Eudora Welty, who said, “The book has liveliness and felicity, tenderness and unexpectedness, grace and humor and praise of life, and the good backbone of succinctness that only the most highly imaginative stories seem to grow.” She continued to describe some of the main characters in the book and closed the book review by saying, “What the book is about is friendship on earth, affection and protection, adventure and miracle, life and death, trust and treachery, pleasure and pain, and the passing of time. As a piece of work it is just about perfect, and just about magical in the way it is done.”

I have warm, fuzzy feelings about this book. My second grade teacher read it to our class. I loved the magic of the fair, riding the ferris wheel and round, fat Templeton crawling home after a night of good eating. I liked the idea of rooting for the underdog Wilbur, the runt that no one wanted except Fern. And of course, Charlotte, with her descriptive words for Wilbur’s personality. I remember having to do a word description project for myself and a friend in my second grade classroom. “Some Pig” and “Crunchy” would not work for a person. I was an avid library visitor, but this was a book I NEEDED to own.  On Christmas, I remember unwrapping a copy of this book from my grandparents and in my Gram’s neat cursive on the inside cover it says, “Merry Christmas! Love, Gram and Pop (1988)”. My grandparents have since passed away, but this book is in a special place on my bookshelf in my living room.

According to “Publishers Weekly”, Charlotte’s Web is the best-selling paperback for children of all time. As this book celebrates its 60^th birthday, I think it is time for me–and maybe you, too–to re-read this classic book.

CHARLOTTE’S WEB

WHITE, E.B.                                       Original Date: 1952

A little girl who can talk with animals is devoted to Wilbur, the foolishly smug pig, and Charlotte, the beautiful gray spider who works to save Wilbur’s life. A sensitive story for children of all ages as well as adults.  Newbery Honor book 1953.

Charlotte’s Web is available in Braille, audio cassette, digital download (BARD), digital cartridge and large print.

BR 01318, BR 09405, BR 17770, BT 03247

DX 46839, DB 46839

RC 07107, RC 46839

LB 05976

For a link to the story on NPR “Some Pig! Charlotte’s Web Turns 60” go to: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/15/162735079/some-book-charlottes-web-turns-60?sc=fb&cc=nprbooks&device=iphone#commentBlock

Cited, NY Times article “Along Came a Spider” (book review of Charlotte’s Web): http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/22/specials/welty-charlotte.html

Cited, My Library of Congress, Exhibition, “Books that Shaped America, 1950 – 2000: http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/books-that-shaped-america/1950-2000/ExhibitObjects/Charlottes-Web.aspx

Banned Book Week celebrates the freedom to read and challenges us to read books that have caused controversy. Since 1990, the Office of Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association has been keeping track of books that are challenged at public and school libraries around the country. The American Library Association describes a book challenge as, “a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness”. In 2011, 326 books were challenged around the country. Books are challenged for a variety of reasons and what some people consider classics others consider challenge worthy.

For more information about Banned Book Week and more challenge worthy reads go to:

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned

Read what all the fuss is about with this selection of 2011’s challenged books from around the United States. You may be surprised to find some of these titles on the list.

HUNGER GAMES, BOOK 1  

COLLINS, SUZANNE                                  Original Date: 2008

In a future North America, Panem’s rulers maintain control through a televised survival competition pitting teens from twelve districts in a fight to the death. Sixteen-year-olds Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are this year’s girl and boy contestants from District Twelve. Some violence. For junior and senior high readers.

BR   18488         BT   03374         DB   68384       DX   68384

LB   06861      RC   68384

ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN 

ALEXIE, SHERMAN                                   Original Date: 2007

Spokane Indian Reservation. Fourteen-year-old Junior–beset with physical problems caused by brain damage–transfers to an all-white town school. Called a traitor by his best friend and Tonto by his new classmates, Junior uses humor and wit to bridge the cultural divide. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers.

DB   65403  DLD       RC   65403

AGONY OF ALICE  

NAYLOR, PHYLLIS REYNOLDS                          Original Date: 1985

Throughout the summer, Alice McKinley has been remembering all of the dumb things she’s ever done.  She’s had no mother for years; no wonder she’s always getting into embarrassing situations.  Now that sixth grade is beginning and she’s almost a teenager, Alice figures she’d better find a good role model–fast. This is the first in a series of 25 books.

RC   25250

 BRAVE NEW WORLD

HUXLEY, ALDOUS                                    Original Date: 1946

A satire of a technocratic future society in which people are rigidly classified and kept happy by a government-administered drug. When two bureaucrats, Lenina and Bernard, travel to a “savage” reservation, they “rescue” a woman and her adult son, abandoned long ago, and return them to civilization. An argument with the “World Controller” demonstrates the incompatibility of individual freedom and a totally  planned society. For senior high and older readers.

BR   01601         BR   11922         DB   47108  DLD     DX   47108    LB   02990         RC   47108

WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW

SONES, SONYA                                      Original Date: 2001

Fourteen-year-old Sophie describes her life in prose poems. She discusses her search for Mr. Right, her unhappy parents, her school activities, and her friends, Grace and Rachel. Grade 1 braille. For senior high readers.

BR   14156

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

LEE, HARPER                                       Original Date: 1960

Scout Finch is an outspoken and literate six-year-old tomboy when she begins her tale of growing up in a small Alabama town with her brother Jem and her attorney father Atticus. The children’s intense curiosity about a reclusive neighbor is eclipsed by Atticus’s attempt to defend   a black man against charges of raping a white woman. Pulitzer Prize winner.

BR   12850        DB   36414  DLD     DX   36414   RC   36414