E.B. White – Blackbird and Company

daring: (of a person or action) adventurous or bold
insecure: (of a person) not confident or assured; uncertain and anxious
disciplined: showing a controlled form of behavior or way of working
inspired: (of a person) exhibiting a creative impulse in the activity specified
adventurous: willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences

E. B. stands for Elwyn Brooks, but he was usually called Andy by anyone who knew him. (Who Was E.B. White, pg. 1)
Andy couldn’t imagine not writing because writing helped him make sense of the world. (Ch., 1 pg. 5)
When he was young Andy went into the great outdoors to explore the wildlife and nature to stop himself from being lonely. (Ch. 1, pg. 10)
Andy said that as a child he lacked for nothing except for confidence. (Ch. 2, pg. 15)
At the age of 8 Andy began to keep a daily journal, which he continued for the twenty years. (Ch. 2, pg. 19)
When Andy became a freshman, he began to work at the school newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun, and he paid more attention to this than his classes. (Ch. 3, pg. 26)
By the end of the trip, Andy realized that the subject he should write about was life as he saw it. (Ch. 4, pg. 38)

unconventional: not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed
humorous: causing lighthearted laughter and amusement; comic
playful: fond of games and amusement; lighthearted
outspoken: frank in stating one’s opinion, especially if they are critical or controversial
patriotic: having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country

Andy liked The New Yorker magazine because the style and tone was casual and funny just as he liked to write. (Ch. 5, pg. 39)
In 1925 Andy decided to quit his advertising job so they he could focus on writing full-time as a freelance writer. (Ch. 5, pg. 42)
After some time, Andy agrees to work part-time for The New Yorker magazine. (Ch. 5, pg. 45)
In November 1929, Andy spontaneously asked Katherine Angell to marry him. (Ch. 6, pg. 49)
Andy was worried about such world events as the Great Depression, the rise of dictatorships in Europe, especially Hitler and this caused him to write more political pieces about democracy and protecting people’s rights. (Ch. 7, pg. 59)
The book that was so important to Andy that he carried it with him everywhere was, Waldon, by Henry David Thoreau. (Ch. 7, pg. 62)
Andy helped the US during World War II by writing a pamphlet for F.D.R. about the importance of democracy, and in Maine he served as a plane spotter at night looking for enemy planes. (Ch. 8, pg. 70)

resolute: admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering
curious: eager to know or learn something
bold: (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous
encouraging: give support, confidence, or hope to (someone)
imaginative: having or showing creativity or inventiveness

Children’s librarian Anne Carroll Moore encouraged Andy to write a book for children although when she read it, she led a campaign to have it banned. (Ch. 9, pgs. 75 & 77)
In the 1950s and 1960s Andy wrote and supported the ideas of democracy, civil rights, and pollution of the planet. (Ch. 10, pg. 84)
Andy encouraged the scientist Rachel Carson to write a book on the effects of pollution on the environment and it was called, Silent Spring. (Ch. 10, pg. 86)
After watching a spider spin her sac of eggs and leave, Andy took the sac home and the sac hatched hundreds of baby spiders, which caused him to study spider for a year. After this he was inspired to write the novel, Charlotte’s Web. (Ch. 11, pgs. 89-91)
When E.B. White wrote an article to honor author Strunk’s death, he was asked to revise the book and Shrunk’s, The Elements of Style became famous. (Ch. 12, pg. 97)
The swan in The Trumpet of the Swan is named after the famed trumpet player Louis Armstrong. (Ch. 12, pg. 99)
In 1963 Andy received the highest award a civilian can be given, The Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Ch. 12, pg. 105)