Charlotte's WebCharlotte's Web
Score Classic
What it's about
Wilbur is the runt of a litter of pigs, saved from slaughter by a girl named Fern. When he's sold to her uncle's farm, he learns from the other animals that he'll be killed at Christmas. A wise, kind gray spider named Charlotte, who lives in the barn doorway, vows to save him. Her plan is to write words about Wilbur in her web, words that will make people believe he's a remarkable pig.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling children's books ever, about 50 million copies, and a pick on both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read. It's a perfect book about friendship and death.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hobbit
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Watership DownGood to know
It's a children's book that adults love too, and it's wonderful read aloud. The ending makes almost everyone cry.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller79 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
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Quick answers
Is Charlotte's Web worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling children's books ever, about 50 million copies, and a pick on both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read. It ranks #341 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Charlotte's Web about?
Wilbur is the runt of a litter of pigs, saved from slaughter by a girl named Fern. When he's sold to her uncle's farm, he learns from the other animals that he'll be killed at Christmas. A wise, kind gray spider named Charlotte, who lives in the barn doorway, vows to save him. Her plan is to write words about Wilbur in her web, words that will make people believe he's a remarkable pig.
How long does it take to read Charlotte's Web?
About 5 hours (196 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Charlotte's Web?
If you liked it, try The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis or Watership Down by Richard Adams.