A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider: The Story of E. B. White

Written by Barbara Herkert, Illustrated by Lauren Castillo

This is, of course, a picture book biography of beloved children’s author E.B. White and his path to becoming a writer of some of the best loved books of all time. The main thing that drew me to this book was the illustrations, which look very much like the animated film of Charlotte’s Web. I love the muted colors and heavy lines. The text is written in prose and tells of a young boy’s friendship with his pet mouse, which inspired White’s first book, Stuart Little. It also tells of Elwyn’s struggles at school, his life on the farm, and how the ideas for his books came about. I think adults and children alike will love this lower level audience book.

Review by Terrie Bishop, Academy Park Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider
Written by Barbara Herkert, Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Christy Ottaviano Books / Henry Holt and Company
40 pages
Release Date: October 24, 2017
A review copy was provided by the publisher.