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A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider--The Story of E. B. White Hardcover – October 24, 2017

by Barbara Herkert (Author), Lauren Castillo (Illustrator)

12 customer reviews

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A lyrical biography of E. B. White, beloved author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, written by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Caldecott honoree Lauren Castillo.

When young Elwyn White lay in bed as a sickly child, a bold house mouse befriended him. When the time came for kindergarten, an anxious Elwyn longed for the farm, where animal friends awaited him at the end of each day. Propelled by his fascination with the outside world, he began to jot down his reflections in a journal. Writing filled him with joy, and words became his world.

Today, Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web are beloved classics of children’s literature, and E. B. White is recognized as one of the finest American writers of all time.

A Christy Ottaviano Book

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2–5—The lean, carefree verse treads lightly through events in E.B. White's life and occasionally lingers on rich, imagistic descriptions of the rural rhythms that so inspired him ("Elwyn's senses sharpened/to the ripe scent of manure,/the creak of harness leather,/the perfect shape of eggs…"). These particular moments shine and could provide useful material for poetry units on writing using the senses. Herkert presents White's life as relatively untroubled, creating a harmonious feeling that may fill some readers with peace and may lull others to sleep. Castillo's friendly ink-and-watercolor illustrations also contribute to the sense of cheerful pleasantness. Curiously, while the text does elaborate on how and why White wrote Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web, it makes no mention of The Trumpet of the Swan outside of the author's note. (The author's note also provides additional context and information on important dates, details, and awards.) VERDICT Herkert's poetry is a delight to the senses, though the overall package is on the slight side. A winsome picture book biography to pair with Melissa Sweet's Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White.—Kate Stadt, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, MA

Review

An Ezra Jack Keats Award Nominee
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A CCBC Master List Selection
A Kansas Reading Circle Master List Selection

"Herkert's elegant prose and Castillo's stunning brown ink-and-watercolor illustrations team up for a magnificent model of what a picture book can be. . . A stunner―radiant even."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A subtle narrative structured like verse . . . Castillo uses brown ink, soft watercolors, and digital manipulation to create sturdy, nostalgic scenes of city and country to accompany the development of White’s writing and family life. Rich and rewarding."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Herkert’s poetry is a delight to the senses . . . Castillo’s friendly ink-and-watercolor illustrations also contribute to the sense of cheerful pleasantness. A winsome picture book biography."--School Library Journal

"This book has the feel of poetry . . . an important glimpse into how inspiration can pop up anywhere."--Booklist

"The short ragged-right lines beam with love for his writing and the joys of attentiveness to the world. . . Line and watercolor art with some additional textural and digital touches has an unassuming robustness well suited to its subject."--The Bulletin

"A gentle reverie on a beloved writer, ideally suited for children first encountering his children’s books as read-alouds."--The Horn Book

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Product details

Age Range: 5 - 9 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 4
Lexile Measure: 770 (What's this?)

Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 24, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627792457
ISBN-13: 978-1627792455
Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 12 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #109 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Literary
- #210 in Books > Children's Books > Geography & Cultures > Where We Live > Country Life

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12 customer reviews

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Grandma

I loved it! It's great young readers can be introduced ...

May 5, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I loved it! It's great young readers can be introduced to E.B. White a great American writer!

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Pat

Five Stars

December 23, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Super book for kids

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Merrie B. Wyrick

Not for very young.

February 15, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book appealed to me because it seemed perfect little boy book based on the description and illustrations, but is not great for younger readers such as our 3 year old grandson. The story line is too advanced for little ones, so we will wait until he is at least 5 or 6 to reintroduce.

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Red Canoe Reader

A great introduction to Charlotte's Web

January 15, 2018

Format: Hardcover

So many of us have a great love for E.B. White’s children’s books; Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan, which were a special part of our childhood. However, it’s always fascinating to me to learn about what inspires an author’s stories. E.B. White was a little boy who had many fears, terrible hayfever, and a great love of the outdoors. There all of his senses would come alive and he would record his observations and create poetry for his mother. He grew up to be an editor and to write for The New Yorker, but he continued to yearn for a country life. When he finally moved his family to a farm in Maine, his dreams became a reality and there he created the stories which are a part of our childhood. Barbara Herkert’s gentle biography helps even our youngest little ones get to know E.B. White when she describes his life beginning with his childhood through the time when he created his novels in A Boy, A Mouse and a Spider. Lauren Castillo’s charming illustrations pull us into the story and help us to feel that we are a part of the Maine farm where our beloved Wilbur and Charlotte lived. This picture biography should be a part of the collection in every elementary school and public library. It will introduce your family to the amazing man, E.B. White as you cozy up to read one of E.B. White’s cherished novels together.

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Becky B.Top Contributor: Graphic Novels

A lyrical and beautifully illustrated biography of the beloved author for youngest elementary kids

January 17, 2018

Format: Hardcover

A picture book biography of beloved children's author E.B. White.

I thought there was no need for another children's book about E.B. White but I was wrong. This is definitely aimed at a lower grade level audience than Melissa Sweet's Some Writer! and is nowhere near as detailed. But this one is poetic and spins a heartfelt and lyrical telling of E.B. White's life for the youngest elementary kids to appreciate before they maybe even meet Stuart or Charlotte. Castillo's illustrations are downright stunning and add to that lyrical feel. Reading this is like lifting curtains on the past and peering through sepia gauze to see the author as a child then man then inspired author. There's a few pages of more details on White in the back.

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Tasha Saecker

Beautiful

November 18, 2017

Format: Hardcover

A picture book biography of E.B. White, this book focuses on White’s love of animals and how that combined with his love of writing to become the stories he is known for. Featuring moments from his life, including a friendship with a mouse as a young child, White returns to his beloved Maine to continue to write and soon discovers a story of a pig who needs a hero to save him. Herkert uses a lovely spare poetic tone in this picture book, allowing White’s personal inspirations to shine from his animals to his sense of place. The illustrations by Castillo are wonderful, creating moments of time and beautiful spaces that show White on his journey to becoming one of the most beloved children’s authors. Appropriate for ages 5-8.

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Jennifer Dieleman

Great for any unit study

November 4, 2017

Format: Hardcover

This is wonderful biography about the boy who grew up to write Stewart Little, and Charlotte’s Web. Elwyn grew up with a love of being in the barn. He loved the quiet that he found. As he grew, he realized he had a gift for words. I loved how beautifully written this story is. Readers catch a glimpse into the life of a man who has brought generations of readers happiness. The illustrations are breathtaking. The soft colors and tons allow a reader to feel like they ae in the barn with Elwyn. This is a great addition to any literary biography list. It is a perfect book for a unit study on E.B. White. The afterword in the back gives readers more information about the author and his life. I truly enjoyed reading this book.

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Jacqueline C.

Beautiful illustrations. Love how the story is told

January 9, 2018

Format: Hardcover

Beautiful illustrations. Love how the story is told. The illustrations are exactly the right thing for this story. Love it! Great gift for classroom libraries!

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