Some Writer!

Title: Some Writer!

Author & Illustrator: Melissa Sweet

Pages: 161

Grade Level: 3&4th

           As a little girl, I was always fascinated by the lives of authors. Especially the ones who wrote my favorite books. When I came across this biography of E.B. White, I was eager to read it. The book definitely delivered! I was entranced. Melissa Sweet writes in a narrative fashion that makes E.B. White come alive.  She gives you new insight on each of his stories.  While I’m raving, Melissa Sweet's illustrations are both unique and insightful.  The illustrations inspire even reluctant readers to pick up this book. 

           In Some Writer!, you follow the life of E.B. White. You will meet him as grows up. We learn how his childhood prepared him for a career in writing.  The book follows him as he starts his remarkable writing career. Because it’s a biography, it’s going to continue to follow his life until he dies.  I enjoyed learning more about E.B. White as a person. I was charmed by the chapters about the each of his published books. 

           I enjoyed reading about how most libraries banned Stuart Little. Libraries thought the use of imagination was outrageous and at the time, controversial.  Ms. Sweet goes on to introduces us the beloved pig, Wilbur and the spider, Charlotte.  She includes some comments from Garth Williams, the illustrator, on drawing Charlotte. He strove to make her look like a “love-able” spider.

           A delightful, well-researched book. Children will enjoy looking through the book and learning more about their favorite author. In the spirit of all honesty, E.B. White was not a paragon of virtue, as he did marry a divorced woman and that fact is mentioned in the book.