Reading Level: 8-11
Awards:1953 Newbery Medal -- Children's (Honor Book)

Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-5
Awards: A Newbery Honor Award Winner ( )

Harmless enough tale. Did not care for the repetitious sentence structures, bracketed word definitions, occasionally uncharacteristic dialogue from the characters, the negative portrayal of the rat, and the extremely basic plot. I don't think the fact that it is a book for children excuses it of all of these points. ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-5
John Newbury Honor (1953)
George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award (1970)
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (1970)
Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (1984) ( )

Eight-year-old Fern Arable, her parents, and her older sibling Avery reside on a farm. Fern objects to her father's killing of a runt pig one day, saying it is unfair to slay the animal just because it is small and defenseless. Wilbur is Fern's moniker for the pig. Fern interacts with Wilbur and feeds him from a baby bottle for a few weeks, during which time they grow close. But Mr. Arable demands that Wilbur be sold when he is five weeks old. Fern nicknames the Zuckermans, who also run a farm, her aunt and uncle. Wilbur costs six dollars to purchase. Fern frequently pays a call to Wilbur in the Zuckerman barn, but when she is not, Wilbur gets lonely and longs for a friend. The story tells a great story about friendship. One of my favorites. ( )