BookSnaps | 21st Century Reading Response Log

Charlotte's Web kicks off with Fern Arable asking her mother a question: "Where's Papa going with that ax?"   According to Fern's Mama, Mrs. Arable, Papa is heading out to the hoghouse to "do away" with the smallest pig.  Fern realizes that her Papa is going to kill the runt of the litter, and she doesn't think that's fair at all!  So Fern rushes outside and pleads with her dad to spare the pig. She even tries to take the ax from his hands.  Fern eventually gets her way. Her dad decides to save the pig, and let her care for it just like a baby.  But Papa sounds like he also thinks this might teach Fern a lesson about just how tough it can be to care for animals.

At first, Fern's brother, Avery, is all for killing the little pig.  Then he sees Fern gets to keep it as a pet, and wants one for himself.

Fern is obsessed with her little piggy.  She feeds him milk from a baby bottle, and dreams about him while on the bus.  She even comes up with a name for her little piggy:  Wilbur.  Fern continues to be distracted by thoughts of her new piggy all day.  She's in love!