Allchildren are different. However, they do have universal aspects thatshow up at various stages in their life. At the Middle ElementaryGrades (MEG), most children share threemajor aspects: the ability to see things from another person’sview, the desire for more advanced reading, and the need to develop apositive self-image.

MEGcan be a challenging time for young people. They are not quitechildren, and yet, they are not quite teenagers either. One way tomake this transition smooth is to introduce as much idyllicliterature to children as possible. A book that fits this standard isCharlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

 Charlotte’sWeb is about the friendship between a young pig, Wilbur, and afemale spider, Charlotte. Like every pig, Wilbur is destined to growup to be bacon. He has always wanted to escape his pen and experiencethe world. Meeting Charlotte allows Wilbur to realize that friendshipcan be selflessness and sacrifice. Charlotte craftily saves Wilburfrom the butcher's knife by weaving the message ''Some Pig'' in herweb above Wilbur's sty.Exhausted, the spider died afterwards. Wilbur kept her eggsac, and the next spring, hundreds of young spiders emerge.Charlotte’s spirit lives on.

 Belowis a discourse between the two friends.

 "Whydid you do all this for me?" Wilbur asked. "I don't deserveit. I've never done anything for you. " " You have been myfriend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendousthing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what'sa life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die."

Charlottegives the reality of death in such a poetic and sweet way. It is thegentlest way to introduce and discuss death with a child.

Charlotte’sWeb is a warm, tragic and triumphant story, readable by children.Each character has their unique personalities. This makes it arewarding reading experience for MEG children because they can nowunderstand different points of view. Its complicated themes, such assacrifice, death, and friendship, fulfill children’s desire formore advanced books. Charlotte the spider, despite her size, is ableto save Wilbur. This empowers children into feeling that they too canmake a difference and develop a positive self-image.