Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White

By Melissa Sweet and Marta White

6 Starred Reviews! New York Times Bestseller! A People Magazine Best Children’s Book! A Washington Post Best Book! A Publishers Weekly Best Book! Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Award Honor recipient

Caldecott Honor winner Sweet mixes White’s personal letters, photos, and family ephemera with her own exquisite artwork to tell the story of this American literary icon. Readers young and old will be fascinated and inspired by the journalist, New Yorker contributor, and children’s book author who loved words his whole life. This authorized tribute, a New York Times bestseller, includes an afterword by Martha White, his granddaughter.   

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Nov 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9780544998483

Melissa Sweet

Melissa Sweet is the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of many fine children’s books including Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White, winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus award, Balloons Over Broadway, a Sibert winner, and The Right Word and A River of Words, both Caldecott Honors. Reviewers have described her unique mixed-media illustrations as “exuberant,” “outstanding,” and “a creative delight.” Melissa lives on the beautiful coast of Maine. In addition to writing and painting, she enjoys gardening, hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. For more information about the author and her work, visit her online at melissasweet.net.

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Reviews for Some Writer!

[bookwren · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gorgeous melding of scrapbook art, letters, book excerpts, photos and prose pays loving tribute to the beloved author of "Charlotte's Web" and many more books for both children and adults. Includes an Akuthor's Note, Afterword by Martha White, Timeline, Notes, Selected Bibliography (Works By E. B. White and Works By Others), Thank Yous, Image Credits, and an Index.

[nclegern-495838 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the longer length picture book Some Writer!, author and illustrator Melissa Sweet chronicles the life of author E.B. White. Chapters not only include the segments of his life but also White's most memorable works, including Charlotte's Web and The Trumpet of the Swan. Sweet uses her collage talents to bring White's exceptional life to life. Primary source materials are woven in to nearly every spread, supporting the biography with photographs, journal entries, publications, and drawings.**Orbis Pictus Award Winner

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! E.B. White wrote Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan. The author is a very talented Caldecott honor winner. This is a beautifully illustrated book of the life of the author of beloved children's books, inspired by living on a farm in Maine where he found solace and beauty.

[kimmeyer-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have no particular affinity for EB White. I haven't read a single thing he's written. But I loved this biography for both its words and illustrations.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With her trademark watercolor and collage illustrations, Sweet takes readers on a leisurely stroll through the highlights of White's life, from his childhood in suburban New York, to marrying fellow writer Katharine Angell and having a son, to purchasing a farm in Maine, to writing his best-known works, to his death as an octogenarian. I learned some new facts about White (he was good friends with Thurber, and once shared an office with him), and enjoyed this plainly told account of what seems to have been a mostly happy, simple life. It's not particularly gripping, but it's a pleasant read, and not particularly lengthy. If you're looking for a short biography, beautifully illustrated, this should be a good fit. If you're wanting something with more meat to it, I have also enjoyed The Story of Charlotte's Web by Michael Sims.

[donnamariemerritt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As much for adults as for kids. Really enjoyed this book, the insights into Andy's life (never knew he went by Andy!), and the creative way all the info is displayed. Meticulously researched.

[aliceap-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Up til this point, I could most likely count the number of biographies written for children that I've read. Actually I could probably count how many biographies in total I've ever read because I have to admit biographies in general not my favorite genre. However, there are always exceptions and every now and again there are people who I find intriguing enough to seek out more information about them. Last year I read My Ears Are Bent which included different excerpts from The New Yorker along with background on the magazine itself. I discovered from this book just how much of the writing was done by E.B. White. (You might recognize him from such things as Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web.) This piqued my interest in White but I had so many other things on my TRL that I somewhat forgot about him until I saw Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet pop up as a recommended read. I think E.B. White would have heartily approved of this biography even though he was an intensely private, low-key individual. This book delivered not only on giving me the biography that I was looking for but also offering up beautiful mixed media layouts which make it more accessible to children. His approach to writing and his proliferation of works is fascinating and astonishing. Sweet manages to educate the reader about his works but she also manages to paint a portrait of a writer that was passionate about his craft, his family, and his farm. She does this almost from the start. This book is great if you want to learn more about E.B. White yourself or if you want to introduce your kids to biographies. It's easily accessible and the layout is beautiful. Quick, fun read that I'd recommend for reluctant biography readers (like myself). 10/10

[canderson15-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a biography talking about the life and works of E. B White. The story takes you through the events that take place during his life and how they coincide and influenced the books that he wrote. This book demonstrated a good plot line involving the different elements of his life in addition to details of his works with a good exposition. It was engaging to read informational material in a story format.

[khaddox-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an uncorrected proof from the publisher.

SOME PIG, Charlotte the spider’s praise for Wilbur, is just one fondly remembered snippet from E. B. White s "Charlotte s Web." In "Some Writer!," the two-time Caldecott Honor winner Melissa Sweet mixes White s personal letters, photos, and family ephemera with her own exquisite artwork to tell his story, from his birth in 1899 to his death in 1985. Budding young writers will be fascinated and inspired by the journalist, "New Yorker" contributor, and children s book author who loved words his whole life. This authorized tribute is the first fully illustrated biography of E. B. White and includes an afterword by Martha White, E. B. White's granddaughter.

I’m not much of one for reading non-fiction, but when I saw that A) there was going to be a new biography of E.B. White, and B) the illustrations were going to be innovative and brilliant, I knew I had to read it. This book did not disappoint. The narrative is informative and easy to follow, and the illustrations are eye candy. I was caught from the first page, and felt emotionally attached to the subject before reaching the midpoint of the book. As a huge fan of Charlotte’s Web, reading about the development and growth of that particular story was like getting to read the book itself for the first time all over again. I would whole-heartedly recommend this biography to any fan (young or old) of E.B. White and his books.

[electrascaife · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From the same illustrator who magicked The Right Word, the Caldecott-winning biography of Peter Roget, this is a gorgeous tribute to the life and writings of E. B. White. Just wonderful.