Stuart Little

Stuart Little
E.B.White
HarperCollins, 1945 131 pages
Grades 3-6
Fantasy/Classic

Stuart is born to the Little family of New York City. Though from a family of privilege, he enters the world resembling a small mouse and clocking in at only a little over two inches high. The Little family loves him just the way he is and makes allowances for their boy, including customizing a bedroom and the bathroom. Dangers lurk for such a small guy, including encounters with the family cat and traipsing around the city on a bus, but life is not all a drudgery. Because of his size, Stuart is able to sail a model boat in Central Park and ride around in toy cars. After an injured bird lands on the Little's windowsill Stuart makes a new friend. Margalo and he have much in common and pass the days quite pleasantly until the family cat prompts the bird to fly north for the summer. Stuart takes it upon himself to find his dear friend and runs away from home. After loading up his little car, he hits the open road, only to find further adventures and meet more new friends along the way.

I always loved this book growing up. Being decidedly "undersized", I could relate to Stuart's plight and challenges of getting by in an inaccessible world. I envied his unabashed personality and confidence. Another winning piece of the puzzle of why I love this book are the sweet and gentle illustrations by childhood favorite, Garth Williams. reading the book forty-five years later, I still find it comforting and cozy. Stuart is a remarkable figure. He doesn't let much slow him down. He is fearless and willing to throw himself in any situation, even if he is not an expert on it. My favorite bit is when he teaches school. He throws traditional teaching on its ear and reaches the kids on his own terms. The book is a series of vignettes. We see snippets of Stuart's life and different mini-adventures. The ending leaves some loose ends, yet the reader is assured that Stuart's journey will continue and that he will always land on top. Has it stood the test of time? The book will certainly still appeal to children and the plot has enough action to keep this generation of distracted readers interested. There are bits that are dated and perhaps not politically correct in today's times such as cigarette smoking, the mother portrayed as a ditzy housewife, and dated terms and references. Still, it is a comforting read from a classic children's author legend. Give to fans of Flat Stanley and Beverly Cleary's Runaway Ralph.