Charlotte's Web
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Charlotte's Web is a children's book by acclaimed American author E. B. White. It tells the story of a spider named Charlotte and her friendship with a pig named Wilbur. Wilbur was originally the piglet pet of a young girl named Fern Arable, who was forced to take him to the Zuckerman farm after he grew into an adult pig.
Charlotte lives in the space above Wilbur's sty in the Zuckermans' barn; she befriends Wilbur and decides to help prevent him from being eaten. With the help of the other barn animals, including a rat named Templeton, she convinces the Zuckerman family that Wilbur is special by spelling out such descriptions as "Some Pig" in her web. Charlotte gives her full name as "Charlotte A. Cavatica", revealing her as a barn spider, an orb-weaver spider with the scientific name araneus cavaticus.
Written in White's dry, low-key manner, Charlotte's Web is considered a classic of children's literature, enjoyable to adults as well as children. The description of the experience of swinging on a rope swing at the farm is an oft-cited example of rhythm in writing, as the pace of the sentences reflects the motion of the swing.
Publishers Weekly lists the book as the best-selling children's paperback of all time (cited at [1] (http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0203050.html)). It is 78th on the 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 Honors book for 1953, losing out to Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark for the medal.
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Film adaptations
Charlotte's Web 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 famous television cartoons—Heidi's Song (1982) being the other—and was a moderate critical and commercial success.
Paramount released a direct-to-video sequel, Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure, in 2003, and has scheduled a live-action/animated remake of the original film, to star Dakota Fanning as Fern, for 2006, in association with Nickelodeon Movies.
Voice Cast of 1973 film
- Debbie Reynolds as Charlotte A. Cavatica
- Paul Lynde as Templeton
- Henry Gibson as Wilbur
- Rex Allen as Narrator
- Danny Bonaduce as Avery Arable
- Pamelyn Ferdin as Fern Arable
- Joan Gerber as Mrs. Zuckerman and Mrs. Fussy
- Bob Holt as Homer Zuckerman
- Dave Madden as Ram and others
- Don Messick as Jeffrey
- Agnes Moorehead as The Goose
- Charles Nelson Reilly
- Martha Scott as Mrs. Arable
- John Stephenson as Arable
- Herb Vigran as Lurvy
- William B. White as Henry Fussy
Cast of 2006 Film Version (as of yet)
Actors:
- Dakota Fanning as Fern Arable
- Siobhan Fallon as Mrs. Zuckerman
- Beau Bridges as Dr. Dorian
- Essie Davis
- Kevin Anderson
- Gary Basaraba
- Nate Mooney
Voices:
- Julia Roberts as Charlotte A. Cavitca
- Steve Buscemi as Templeton
- Oprah Winfrey as Gussy the Goose
- Cedric the Entertainer as Golly the Goose
- Kathy Bates as Bitsy
- Reba McEntire as Betsy
- Robert Redford as Ike
- John Cleese as Samuel
- Andre 3000 as Elwyn
- Thomas Haden Church as Brooks
- Jennifer Garner as Susy
- Jane Sibbett as Joy
- Charles Jefferson as Jack
Printed editions and ISBN numbers
- ISBN 0060263857 (hardcover, 1952)
- ISBN 0060263865 (library binding, 1952)
- ISBN 0064400557 (paperback, 1974)
- ISBN 0606026282 (prebound, 1980)
- ISBN 0871292432 (paperback, 1983)
- ISBN 0061070106 (paperback, 1990)
- ISBN 1561376302 (hardcover, 1998)
- ISBN 1561370266 (hardcover, 1999)
- ISBN 1581180500 (library binding, 1999, Large Type Edition)
- ISBN 0064410935 (paperback, 2001)
- ISBN 0758701780 (hardcover, 2002)
- ISBN 0060006986 (hardcover, 2002, Anniversary Edition)
- ISBN 0807283053 (paperback)