[Nonfiction Wednesday] Launch of April – June Theme and The Story Of A Writer

Myra here.

We are delighted to join the Nonfiction Picture Book meme 2020 hosted by Alyson Beecher @ Kid Lit Frenzy. We would also be linking our nonfiction choices with our reading themes throughout the year, when we can.

We are very pleased to launch our quarterly reading theme from April – June 2020: The World In Books! During this period, we will be largely featuring books that deal with the following themes:

1. Stories about reading and writing
2. Love of books and words
3. Stories and storytellers
4. Readers and writers
5. Narratives that promote literacy and reading

Hence, I am super excited to feature the picturebook biography of E. B. White, world-renowned for his Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web.

A Boy A Mouse And A Spider: The Story Of E. B. White (Amazon | Book Depository)

Written by Barbara Herkert Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Published by Henry Holt & Company (2017)
ISBN: 1627792457 (ISBN13: 9781627792455)
Borrowed from Singapore NLB Overdrive. Book photos taken by me.

Full confession: I have yet to read E. B. White’s stories. But I am familiar with his Strunk and White (essential reading for academics and young students who are writing term papers or their thesis), and I have seen the film adaptations of both Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web and shed unbidden tears while watching both movies.

This story explores young Elwyn’s childhood – his sickly nature which made him gravitate towards animals – creatures that are more vulnerable than himself. His love of the outdoors and the written word was featured prominently in the narrative, along with his steadfast and gentle nature.

I was also very curious how E. B. White eventually decided to move from the bustling-city-that-never-sleeps cosmopolitan New York to a sedate little town to raise his family and his farm animals.

It is clear that being in a space where he could “hear the wind” contributed greatly to his creativity, provided the inspiration that allowed his voice to come through in the pages, along with his love for stillness and spiders and the sunrise. Parents and educators will also be happy to note that there is an extensive backmatter that provides even more information about E. B. White along with a list of References for interested readers to find.

All the stories so far that I have read of E. B. White’s life, including Melissa Sweet’s Some Writer (Amazon | Book Depository) …

.. show me that he was quite a remarkable man whose groundedness and introspective nature is something that the world needs more of right about now. I need to read his books stat!