Why I’m Reading Charlotte’s Web to My Boys (Even Though They Love Dragons and Pirates)

Dear Friend,

Recently, I started reading Charlotte’s Web to my two boys.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would go.

Right now, their worlds are filled with dragons, pirates, giant battles, and all the loud exciting things little boys tend to love. I figured an older story about a pig, a spider, and life on a farm might not stand much of a chance competing against fire-breathing reptiles and treasure maps.

But something surprising happened.

Every night they keep asking for another chapter.

And another.

And another.

What has amazed me even more than their excitement is how often they stop me to ask what a word means. Words I would’ve assumed were “too advanced” for them. Yet there they are, listening intently, trying to understand, piecing together meaning from context and conversation.

It reminded me of something I think we underestimate as parents.

Children do not need to be able to read a book themselves to benefit from great literature.

Listening matters.

In fact, active listening may be one of the most powerful ways to introduce children to language, rhythm, emotion, storytelling, and deep thinking long before they can fully decode the words on the page.

When we read aloud to children, we are exposing them to vocabulary far beyond what most early readers encounter on their own. We are showing them how stories breathe. How tension builds. How humor lands. How sadness feels. How beautiful writing sounds.

Books like Charlotte’s Web endure because they speak to something timeless. They trust children with real emotions. Friendship. Loneliness. Fear. Love. Sacrifice. Change.

Children are often capable of understanding far more than we give them credit for.

I think sometimes we avoid older or “harder” books because we worry kids won’t understand every word or concept. But understanding every single thing isn’t the point. Sitting inside rich language is valuable all by itself.

That’s how children grow.

Not just academically, but emotionally and imaginatively.

And honestly, I think something else is happening too.

When children hear beautiful writing early enough, it shapes their internal voice. It raises their standard for storytelling without them even realizing it. It teaches them that stories can be thoughtful and layered and meaningful, not just loud and fast.

I don’t say this as someone against modern entertainment. My boys still love dragons and pirates. Truthfully, so do I.

But I want them to experience stories that have endured for generations for a reason.

Stories that slow down enough to let a child think.

Stories that trust children enough to tell them something true.

Stories that linger.

As a children’s author myself, this has become increasingly important to me. I want to write books children enjoy, but I also want to create stories that respect them. Stories that leave room for curiosity, reflection, and conversation.

I think one of the greatest gifts we can give children is not simply the ability to read, but the love of reading.

And sometimes that starts with a parent sitting on the edge of the bed reading one more chapter long after bedtime should have happened.

Even if dragons and pirates are waiting tomorrow night.

Until next time,
A. B. Wade
Author of the On The Farm Collection