E. B. White, the author of such beloved classics asCharlotte''s Web,Stuart Little, andThe Trumpet of the Swan, was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff ofThe New Yorkermagazine, then in its infancy. He died on October 1, 1985, and was survived by his son and three grandchildren.

Mr. White''s essays have appeared inHarper''smagazine, and some of his other books are:One Man''s Meat,The Second Tree from the Corner,Letters of E. B. White,Essays of E. B. White, andPoems and Sketches of E. B. White. He won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, which commended him for making a "substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children."

During his lifetime, many young readers asked Mr. White if his stories were true. In a letter written to be sent to his fans, he answered, "No, they are imaginary tales . . . But real life is only one kind of life—there is also the life of the imagination."