Charlotte's Web

Why It's On Our Shelf

This is often the book that teaches kids about death for the first time, and it does it beautifully. Charlotte dies after laying her egg sac, and the book doesn't shy away from the sadness while also showing that life continues. The friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur is genuine and touching, and the writing is beautiful enough to work for a wide age range. What makes this a masterpiece is how it handles real emotion honestly - Charlotte's death is sad and the book acknowledges it without trying to make it something else. The themes are profound without being heavy-handed, which is exactly what good children's literature should do.