Charlotte's Web
Lexile Level: 680L
Wilbur the pig is born a runt, and the farmer decides he must face the axe.Fern steps in and saves him. She cares for the little pig, who later goes to a nearby farm. Wilbur discovers that his fate has been set for him. Horrified, he talks to a spider named Charlotte and she decides to try to help the pig out to save his life. The story is one of friendship, loyalty, and self-sacrifice.
I would read this to older grades to show that the passing of time has to happen so that life can go on, but with friendship and love and that the life was meant for something to help everyone you can.
