I was probably eight when I was first captured by Charlotte’s Web. Our teacher read a few chapters aloud every afternoon and each day we longed for more, our excitement growing as story time neared. As each new character entered our lives – for this was no longer just a story – we were introduced to the world; humanity with all its beauty and its foibles.

We were transported to a small farm where a little girl named Fern hand-reared the runt pig Wilbur; we watched him grow, make friends, discover Charlotte the spider, love and loss, and live his life to the fullest. I’ve read this wonderful adventure at least once a year ever since. Half a century later, I still weep for Charlotte, rejoice in the friendship, kindness and love, wonder over the mystery and the beauty in our world. And every time I feel whole again. The writing is beautiful, the sentiments profound.

This story is E.B. White’s love letter to humanity, so let this meagre offering be my love letter to E.B. White. From the bottom of my heart I believe there isn’t a reader (child or adult) who won’t be a better person for reading Charlotte’s Web. What are you waiting for?

Athina Clarke is the children’s book buyer at Readings Malvern.