Amerikaans Tóp-kinderboek

Een lief boek en leuk, ontroerend soms, voor kleine kinderen ook spannend. In Amerika net zo bekend als bij ons Pluk dat is. Ik las zo vaak dat mensen aan dit boek uit 1952 goede jeugdherinneringen hadden dat ik het ook wilde lezen. Tijdens het lezen over de dierenlievende Charlotte kun je weer even kind worden, mee naar de stal om door met de dieren te praten te horen hoe het hen vergaat. Er komen problemen en pogingen die te baas te worden. Niet alles lukt gelijk, dat vind ik prettig.

Het boek begint gelijk heftig: ‘Where’s Papa going with that axe?’ said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
‘Out to the hoghouse,’ replied Mrs. Arable. ‘Some pigs were born last night.’
‘I don't see why he needs an axe,’ continued Fern, who was only eight.
‘Well,’ said her mother, ‘One of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it.’
‘Do away with it?’ shrieked Fern
...
Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors.
The grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime. Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father.
...
‘Fern,’ said Mr. Arable, ‘I know more about raising a litter of pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble. Now run along!’
‘But it's unfair,’ cried Fern. ‘The pig couldn’t help being born small, could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?’

Uiteindelijk loopt het natuurlijk goed af!