My sixth-month-old granddaughter, Blair, and I enjoy reading. A current favorite of ours is the board book adaptation of Charlotte’s Web. We settle on a cozy spot on the couch and open the stiff little book to the first page. There, we find a precious rendering of the pink-cheeked protagonist gazing lovingly at his elegant, eight-legged friend. Charlotte dangles from her webbing that swags from the title.

Blair leans forward, her round, blue eyes focusing on the illustrations. Occasionally, she presses a dimpled hand flat against the colorful pages. Often, she grasps a corner of the book and tries to gnaw on the chipboard.

Blair loves books so much she wants to eat them!

We love reading about Wilbur and Charlotte. We read the descriptive words that Charlotte wove into her web in order to save Wilbur: some pig, terrific, radiant, and humble. We notice Fern’s hair. In this version, Fern has braids tied with ribbons. Blair is fascinated with long hair.

We point out the puddles of Wilbur’s tears when he realizes Zuckerman’s plans for him. We applaud Templeton, the rat, for helping with the rescue mission; and we take a little extra time studying Wilbur as he prances and cartwheels in an attempt to prove that he truly is terrific and radiant.

As I begin this month of writing, I am reminded of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, both the original and the more succinct version that I read to my granddaughter. What a celebration of friendship and the power of words!

The board book ends (as does the novel) with one of my favorite quotes: “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”

E.B. White’s words have inspired me to set two goals which I plan to work toward during the month of March and beyond.

Goal #1 – I hope to forge and nurture friendships as I share daily slices of life and read other writers’ slices.

Goal #2 – I hope to grow as a writer.

Happy writing, Slicers! May we all be characterized as good friends and good writers!