The Trumpet of the Swan

E. B. White

Harper Collins, Oct 3, 2000 - Juvenile Fiction - 272 pages

Swan Song

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection -- he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

Contents

• SAM1: 1
• THE POND8: 8
• A VISITOR17: 17
• THE CYGNETS29: 29
• LOUIS42: 42
• OFF TO ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ52: 52
• SCHOOL DAYS062: 62
• LOVE78: 78
• THE TRUMPET91: 91
• MONEY TROUBLE99: 99
• CAMP KOOKOOSKOOS111: 111
• A RESCUE118: 118
• END OF SUMMER134: 134
• BOSTON141: 141
• A NIGHT AT THE RITZ150: 150
• PHILADELPHIA166: 166
• SERENA178: 178
• FREEDOM199: 199
• A TALK ABOUT MONEY 212: 212
• BILLINGS225: 225
• THE GREENING SPRING243: 243

About the author

E. B. White, the author of such beloved classics as Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The 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 of The New Yorker magazine, 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 in Harper's magazine, 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, and Poems 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."

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Trumpet of the Swan; Teacher Preparation
• Author: E. B. White
• Edition: illustrated, reprint, revised
• Publisher: Harper Collins, 2000
• ISBN: 0064408671, 9780064408677
• Length: 272 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General; Juvenile Fiction / Classics; Juvenile Fiction / Social Issues / Friendship