A selection of children's books that include themes of empathy. They sit on a light red background with a large red shape which features a star pattern inside it.

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Children's reading lists

17 books that demonstrate empathy

Despite the war, the 1940s was a bumper decade for publishing

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Reading lists

Books that shaped the 1940s

Charlotte's Web

A beautiful hardback edition of Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. This lovely edition is part of the highly collectible Puffin Clothbound Classics series. 
 
The unforgettable story of a girl called Fern who loves a little pig called Wilbur. It tells how Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful grey spider, saves Wilbur from the usual fate of nice fat pigs, by a wonderfully clever plan - a plan so original that no one else could possibly have thought of it!

A beautiful hardback edition of Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. This lovely edition is part of the highly collectible Puffin 'cloth' Classics series - all the titles in the range have attractive 'cloth' textured covers with a stunning repeat pattern design specific to each story. Charlotte's Web makes a perfect addition to the collection which includes some of the best-loved Puffin titles of all time. 
 
Charlotte's Web is the unforgettable story of a girl called Fern who loves a little pig called Wilbur. It tells how Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful grey spider, saves Wilbur from the usual fate of nice fat pigs, by a wonderfully clever plan - a plan so original that no one else could possibly have thought of it! 
 
This hardback edition makes a perfect gift and a must for every family bookshelf.

E. B. White was born in New York in 1899 and died in 1985. He kept animals on his farm in Maine and some of these creatures crept into his books, such as STUART LITTLE which was recently made into a blockbusting film. He received many awards including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1970, an award given every five years to authors who have 'made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children'.

Stuart Little

The enchanting tale of the mouse who is small in size but enormous in spirit. 
 
Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George and Snowball the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's an adventurous and heroic little mouse. His daring escapades include racing a toy boat in a Central Park pond, retrieving his mother's ring from a drain, and crawling inside a piano to fix the keys for his brother. When his best friend, a beautiful little bird called Margalo disappears from her nest, Stuart is determined to track her down. He ventures away from home for the very first time in his life and finds himself embroiled in one exciting adventure after another, making new friends and meeting old ones along the way.

From the author of Charlotte's Web, a charming story of a bold, adventurous little mouse. 
 
Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George and Snowball the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's an adventurous and heroic little mouse. His daring escapades include racing a toy boat in a Central Park pond, retrieving his mother's ring from a drain, and crawling inside a piano to fix the keys for his brother. When his best friend, a beautiful little bird called Margalo disappears from her nest, Stuart is determined to track her down. He ventures away from home for the very first time in his life and finds himself embroiled in one exciting adventure after another, making new friends and meeting old ones along the way 
 
Also available in A Puffin Book: 
 
CHARLOTTE'S WEB, STUART LITTLE and THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN by E. B. White 
 
E. B. White was born in New York in 1899 and died in 1985. He kept animals on his farm in Maine and some of these creatures crept into his books, such as STUART LITTLE which was made into a film in 2000 starring Hugh Lawrie. 
E. B. White received many awards including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1970, an award given every five years to authors who have 'made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children'.

E. B. White was born in New York in 1899 and died in 1985. He kept animals on his farm in Maine and some of these creatures crept into his books, such as STUART LITTLE which was made into a blockbusting film in 2000. He received many awards including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1970, an award given every five years to authors who have 'made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children'.

The Trumpet of the Swan

An uplifting story, which blends wildlife and nature with fantasy to make a tender, humorous and unforgettable animal tale. 
 
Unlike other cygnets, Louis, the trumpeter swan, cannot utter a sound. But with the encouragement of his father, Louis sets out to overcome his problem. One way of doing this Louis decides, is to learn to read and write and so he sets off to Montana to find his friend Sam Beaver. Louis goes to school with him and learns to read and write, but when he returns to the lakes and falls in love with the beautiful Serena, he is upset that Serena can't read his sign, which says 'I love you'. Once again his parents are determined to help him find a new way of expressing himself and it is his father who dreams up the brilliant solution that will put Louis firmly on the path to success and fulfilment.

THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN is an uplifting story by E. B. White, author of CHARLOTTE'S WEB in which wildlife and nature blend with fantasy to make a tender, humorous and unforgettable animal tale. 
 
Unlike other cygnets, Louis, the trumpeter swan, cannot utter a sound. But with the encouragement of his father, Louis sets out to overcome his problem. One way of doing this Louis decides, is to learn to read and write and so he sets off to Montana to find his friend Sam Beaver. Louis goes to school with him and learns to read and write, but when he returns to the lakes and falls in love with the beautiful Serena, he is upset that Serena can't read his sign, which says 'I love you'. Once again his parents are determined to help him find a new way of expressing himself and it is his father who dreams up the brilliant solution that will put Louis firmly on the path to success and fulfilment. 
 
E. B. White was born in the USA. He travelled about trying all sorts of jobs before he joined the New Yorker magazine and became a writer. In 1970 he was awarded the prestigious Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web and in honour of his outstanding contribution to children's literature. E. B. White died in 1985. 
 
Also by E. B. White: 
Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little 
 
Also available in A Puffin Book: 
GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM and BACK HOME by Michelle Magorian 
CHARLOTTE'S WEB, STUART LITTLE and THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN by E. B. White 
THE BORROWERS by Mary Norton 
STIG OF THE DUMP by Clive King 
ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY by Mildred D. Taylor 
A DOG SO SMALL by Philippa Pearce 
GOBBOLINO by Ursula Moray Williams 
MRS FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Richard C O'Brien 
A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle 
THE CAY by Theodore Taylor 
TARKA THE OTTER by Henry Williamson 
WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams 
SMITH by Leon Garfield 
THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende 
ANNIE by Thomas Meehan 
THE FAMILY FROM ONE END STREET by Eve Garnett

We, and our children, are lucky to have this book

. . . the beautiful details, the sweetness of relationships - poignant without this time being sad - also make you know that this is the author of Charlotte's Web

Virginia Haviland (US author and librarian, 1911 - 1988)

E. B. White was born in the USA. He travelled about trying all sorts of jobs before he joined the New Yorker magazine and became a writer. In 1970 he was awarded the prestigious Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web and in honour of his outstanding contribution to children's literature. E. B. White died in 1985.

Charlotte's Web (Colour Edn)

Wilbur didn't want food, he wanted love. He wanted a friend - someone who would play with him. 
 
One spring morning a little girl called Fern rescues a runt and names him Wilbur. But then Wilbur is sent to live on a farm where he meets Charlotte, a beautiful large grey spider. They become best friends and, when Wilbur is faced with a dreadful fate, Charlotte must find a very clever way to save him.

E. B. White's Charlotte's Web in full colour makes a perfect gift. 
 
'No child should be without a copy' - Daily Mail 
 
The classic, much-loved story by E. B. White, beautifully illustrated by Garth Williams, is reissued in large format paperback in full colour. This is an ideal book to read aloud and share with all the family. 
 
One spring morning a little girl called Fern rescues a runt and names him Wilbur. But then Wilbur is sent to live on a farm where he meets Charlotte, a very clever and very beautiful large grey spider. They become best friends and, when Wilbur is faced with a dreadful fate - the butcher's chop! - Charlotte must find a very clever way to save him. 
 
E. B. White was born in New York in 1899 and died in 1985. He kept animals on his farm in Maine and some of these creatures crept into his books, such as STUART LITTLE which was made into a blockbusting film. He received many awards including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1970, an award given every five years to authors who have 'made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children'.

No child should be without a copy

E. B. White

Garth Williams

70th Anniversary Edition

'From grammar to the tenderness in which this story is delivered, E. B. White's writing is so perfect... And Garth William's muted illustrations are entirely without fault. Whether read aloud or solo, this is a book well deserving of its "classic" status.' - The Children's Book Review 
 
Wilbur the pig's life has already been saved by Fern, but when he is sold to her uncle, he realises his life is in even more danger. Enter Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider. Charlotte is determined to keep Wilbur from the chopping block, and comes up with an ingenious way to do just that. 
 
Puffin Clothbound Classics are stunningly beautiful hardback editions of the most famous stories in the world, now including a beautiful 70th anniversary edition of Charlotte's Web, the poignant, humorous story of a pig, a spider and a little girl. 
 
Collect our Puffin Clothbound Classics: 
9780241444313 The Little Prince 
9780241663554 The Jungle Book 
9780241568811 Charlotte's Web 
9780241688243 Little Women 
9780241688250 Peter Pan 
9780241688267 The Railway Children 
9780241688236 Chinese Cinderella 
9780241411216 Treasure Island 
9780241411209 The Wizard of Oz 
9780241655702 Watership Down 
9780241663578 The Worst Witch 
9780241663547 David Copperfield 
9780241663561 The Neverending Story 
9780241623909 Stig of the Dump 
9780241623916 The Dark is Rising 
9780241411162 The Secret Garden 
9780241411148 Black Beauty 
9780241411155 Dracula 
9780241425121 Frankenstein 
9780241425138 Wuthering Heights 
9780241425114 Tales from Shakespeare 
9780241425107 Tales of the Greek Heroes 
9780241411193 A Christmas Carol 
9780241621196 Grimms' Fairy Tales 
9780241425145 Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

E. B. White

Charlotte's Web

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