Fern from "When I Read, I Dream" series

The doll, Fern, from Charlotte's Web.
See Heidi from the same series.

       I recently acquired Fern from the "When I Read, I Dream" series by Mattel from the second-hand market place.

The back side of the box this doll comes in reads:
       "When I Read, I Dream" collector dolls celebrate the friends we make between the pages of best-loved books. Meet one of the first in our series, Fern Arable, the spunky little girl who befriends a "TERRIFIC" pig in Charlottes Web.
       Fern has a lively imagination and loves to sit on a stool in Uncle Homer's barn, listening to Wilbur the pig. Charlotte the spider and all the other animals share stories. When Wilbur's life is threatened, Fern hears the animals plot to save him!
       Fern is presented here in denim dress overalls and red boots, perfect for listening to barnyard stories or chasing brother Avery through the pasture. And, of course, she wouldn't go anywhere without her friend Wilbur!"

 

       This adorable, seven inch, red head doll is dressed for adventure and well, a few chores on her Uncle's farm.
       Fern has a rooted, silky wig and painted blue eyes. Her costume comes with tiny details like overall buckles and classic blue jeans stitching in a contrasting colors. Her blouse a country styled red and white check with turned down collar.
       She also has her very own tiny plush piglet, Wilbur,  to play with!

 

Left, Wilbur. Center, Fern. and Right, Charlotte in her web.

First edition cover by Williams.

       Charlotte's Web is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered by the farmer, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur such as "Some Pig" and "Humble" in her web in order to persuade the farmer to let him live.

       Written in White's dry, low-key manner, Charlotte's Web is considered a classic of children's literature, enjoyed by adults as well as children. The description of the experience of swinging on a rope swing at the farm is an often-cited example of rhythm in writing, as the pace of the sentences reflects the motion of the swing. In 2000, Publishers Weekly listed the book as the best-selling children's paperback of all time.

More About Charlotte's Web:

• The animated feature, "Charlotte's Web" from 1973
• Judy Newman at Scholastic about Charlotte's Web

Return to the Doll Guide Index Page