Charlotte’s Web turns 60 this year, and even though I absolutely hate spiders, the ending gets me a little teary. Apparently E.B. White felt the same:

‘”He, of course, as anyone does doing an audio book, had to do several takes for various things, just to get it right,’ [author Michael] Sims says. ‘But every time, he broke down when he got to Charlotte’s death. And he would do it, and it would mess up. … He took 17 takes to get through Charlotte’s death without his voice cracking or beginning to cry.'”

And just in case you’re not already tearing up, here’s my favorite quote from the book:

“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”

I’ll just be over here with a box of tissues, thank you.