Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White
By Lucinda Dyer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Enchanting illustrated bio of "Charlotte's Web" author.
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What's the Story?
SOME WRITER! is the biography of Elwyn Brooks White, who was born in New York City in 1899 and knew he wanted to be a writer "before I went into long pants." He began submitting short pieces (many about animals) to magazines while in elementary school and was first published at age 9. After college and a trip across the U.S. in a Model T Ford, White began writing for the New Yorker, a relationship that would continue for six decades. When he and his wife bought a small farm in Maine, he found himself "surrounded by new acquaintances" -- many of which would become characters in his books. Sweet offers some surprising behind-the-scenes looks at White's books: Stuart Little initially found little favor with librarians and was even banned by some libraries. In his later years, White became a reluctant celebrity and continued writing essays and poems. His last book for children, The Trumpet of the Swan, was published in 1970. He died at age 86 in 1985.
Is It Any Good?
The life of E.B. White, creator of Charlotte the spider, Wilbur the pig, and Stuart Little the mouse, comes alive in this colorful, captivating, and utterly delightful biography. The engaging and accessible text is lifted to the next level and beyond by Melissa Sweet's design, which resembles a scrapbook and incorporates archival photographs, original watercolors and collages, clippings, and diary and manuscript pages. Some Writer! is meant to be seen as well as read, so while some references (for example, to the New Yorker and why it was exciting that White shared an office with James Thurber) will resonate only with older readers, the book's visuals will allow even the youngest readers to immerse themselves in White's extraordinary life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about deciding what you want to be in life. Some Writer! tells us that E.B. White knew from a very young age that he wanted to become a writer. Do you have a long list of careers you might like to have as an adult? Or is there only one on your list?
Have you ever thought about keeping a diary or journal? Would you handwrite it like E.B. White? Or would you use an app on your computer or phone?
Have you ever had a pet that would make a great character in a book or movie? Try writing a story about that animal.
Book Details
- Author: Melissa Sweet
- Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
- Genre: Biography
- Topics: Book Characters, Great Boy Role Models, Horses and Farm Animals
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: October 4, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 7 - 10
- Number of pages: 161
- Available on: Hardback
- Last updated: June 4, 2020
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