Week Four

I love to read. My favorite author as a child was E.B. White. I read Charlotte's Web over and over. I loved the barnyard animals, just as White did. His story is still one that I continue to read as an adult. White's love for nature portrays a simple spider that saves Wilbur's life. Wow! That is amazing to me.

I have seen lots of spiders but I had not thought of them in the way that White presents Charlotte. How could one simple spider have that much impact? Perhaps, it is magic. I will never look at a spider as a simple creature again. Charlotte used words to save Wilbur. How inspiring White's story is!

Spider webs are used to snag flies and bugs. I love the intricate beauty of them. They remind me of spokes in a bicycle wheel. White had a creative imagination. He hatched spiders in a jar on his dresser. Wow! That would be a site to see as spiders crawled everywhere. It makes my skin itch though. Sometimes, I find spider webs on my porch or in my flower garden. I try not to bother them because I know they have a purpose. The spider is a busy creature. In fact, nature is interesting and works like a community.

I also read E.B. White's "Stuart Little." White loved boats and lived in Maine where he could take lots of boat rides. I found this picture that includes the sign: Book a Boat.

Stuart Little is a book about a mouse who has lots of adventures, which has been made into a movie. All children love to watch it. Stuart has fun as he is sent down the drain to find his mother's lost wedding ring. I love his little red sports car. What is not to love about a tiny lovable mouse?

E.B. White's works

Stuart Little: 1945

Charlotte's Web: 1952

The Second Tree from the Corner: 1954

The Elements of Style: 1959

The Trumpet of the Swan: 1970

Famous Quote:

"We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is picking up grapes or sorting the laundry."

I found E.B. White's biography and life story at http://www.todayinliterature.com/stories.asp?Event_Date=10/1...

http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/e.b.white.asp

http://www.nndb.com/people/827/000066629

Born in 1899, White died of Alzheimer's Disease in 1985. Although he wrote several children's classic books, he is mostly known for his work in The Elements of Style.

Other good web sites that I found on E.B. White are:

http://www.winsor.edi/library2/ebwhite.htm

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ebwhite.htm

I relate to E.B. White because he enjoyed nature and was a simple man. It did not take a lot to entertain him. He loved working with animals and was fascinated with nature. I have learned so much from his literature. Perhaps, the one thing that sticks with me is his famous words: "Keep it simple." He was truly an amazing writer and an important man. White worked for the New Yorker for many years. I am impressed with his works and am inspired to follow in his footsteps.