Arthur Accused: A Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Book 5 (Arthur Chapter Books) [Paperback]

Marc Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998 | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Arthur Chapter Books (Book 5)

Arthur's friend Buster is searching for a crime to solve. When the quarters Arthur has collected for Mrs. MacGrady's charity drive mysteriously disappear, Buster is committed to cracking the case. Will Buster be able to prove Arthur's innocence so that he can attend the class picnic? For beginning readers, this suspenseful adventure will surely be a hit.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-3-A beginning chapter book that's based on the series created by Marc Brown. Arthur's friend Buster recounts an episode in which Arthur is falsely accused of stealing a bag of quarters from a school fund drive. Buster solves the case just in time for Arthur to attend the third-grade picnic from which he had been banned. The black-and-white illustrations are not as engaging as children have come to expect from the colorful picture books. However, the chapter-book format will appeal to slightly older fans of the appealing aardvark and his friends.
Eunice Weech, M. L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2^-4. Brown offers yet another pleasurable chapter-book read, the fifth in the series, featuring his cast of familiar, likable characters. This time, Brown uses two points of view to tell the story: words from Arthur's best buddy Buster Baxter open each chapter, which then unravels in third-person perspective. Brand-new private-eye Buster has been dying for a case to solve, and his big chance arrives when Arthur is accused of stealing quarters raised in a fund drive. Thanks to thorough, step-by-step questioning and resourceful detective work, Buster breaks the case wide open--just in time for Arthur to go on the third-grade picnic. An entertaining bit of clever crime-solving, with a scattering of black-and-white illustrations; Arthur's many fans won't be disappointed. Kathleen Squires --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316115568
• ISBN-13: 978-0316115568
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.2 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Popular Characters > TV > Arthur
  • #94 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Brown, Marc

More About the Author

Marc Brown is the creator of the bestselling Arthur Adventure book series and co-developer of the children's PBS television series, Arthur. He has also created a second book series, featuring D.W., Arthur's little sister, as well as numerous other books for children. Marc Brown lives with his family in Tisbury, Massachusetts on Martha's Vineyard.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun Arthur story, May 30, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Arthur Accused: A Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Book 5 (Arthur Chapter Books) (Paperback)

Arthur has to collect money so the fire department can get a dog. He tries to give the money to the cook, but she doesn't see Arthur putting the money next to the ingredients. Something happens to the brownie mix by accident. Arthur is accused of stealing the money, but he really didn't. In the end, it all works out and the fire department gets a dog. I didn't want to put this book down because I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I think this book would be great for 7-8 year olds, especially for kids who used to enjoy the Arthur TV shows when they were younger. JG

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Synthesis of Mystery and Comedy, April 21, 2002

By 

George Buttner "Agent0042" (Dayton, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arthur Accused: A Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Book 5 (Arthur Chapter Books) (Paperback)

(Cue detective-style voice) Let me tell you about a book. It's a very ordinary kind of book, the kind with both a front cover, a back cover and pages in between. The kind of book in which anything can happen - and usually does. (End detective-style voice)

Generally, when you pick up an "Arthur" chapter book, you can rely on an amusing as well as educational story. Any story feature Buster in his detective mode, however, is in a class of it's own.

Buster gets a detective kit and starts looking for a mystery. He even gets really into the role, donning a coat and fedora. At first, though, he can't find a mystery. Then, Arthur is accused of stealing the quarters that he was collecting for the "Buy a Puppy For the Fire Department" project. Arthur knows he's innocent and so do we, so needs somebody to help him, giving Buster his first case. Solving mysteries though, Detective Baxter, soon learns, isn't as easy as it seems.

This book is enjoyable for readers of just about an age, assuming they've reached the reading level to read a 58 page story in chapter book format. For the best effect, watch the TV version of this story first and pay attention to Buster's voice when he's speaking as a detective. Then read the story using that style of voice.

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent Arthur mystery, December 9, 2001

By 

Johnathan Bogart (Boise, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arthur Accused: A Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Book 5 (Arthur Chapter Books) (Paperback)

This is a teriffic Arthur mystery. It has a good mystery, it has a smooth plot, and so what could be better? You have to read this book to see Arthur mysteries at their best.