Arthur Writes a Story: An Arthur Adventure (Arthur Adventure Series) [Paperback]

Marc Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Arthur Adventure Series

The class homework assignment is to write a story, and everyone seems to be writing about something interesting...except Arthur. Will he find something he cares to write about or will his story be a big mess?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3?Another installment in Arthur's everyday adventures. When his teacher asks the students to write a story about something that is important to them, everyone's favorite aardvark cheerfully writes about how he got his dog (told in Arthur's Pet Business [Little, 1990]). But when his sister comments that the story is dull, he changes it. Each person he talks to gives him different advice, so worried Arthur keeps adding and changing. On the day the assignment is due, his contrived and confusing tale elicits a negative response. When he tells his original story, he receives a gold star and applause. Brown's watercolor-and-ink illustrations feature a rounder-faced Arthur surrounded by a lighter and brighter world of home and school. A lesson of being true to oneself that newly independent readers can easily handle.?Martha Gordon, formerly at South Salem Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. Mr. Ratburn tells his class to write a story, and Arthur starts right away. He is pleased with his effort, "How I Got My Puppy Pal," but everyone he talks to suggests a change, and the amiable Arthur incorporates every suggestion. The result, a song-and-dance number about a boy and his pet elephant on Plant Shmellafint, leaves his class speechless, but Mr. Ratburn recovers in time to bring Arthur down to earth and elicit the original story. Bright ink-and-watercolor illustrations offer appealing views of Arthur's home and school as well as his literary fantasies. Teachers will find this an entertaining cautionary tale to read aloud to young writers, and, of course, Arthur fans will devour it. One of the best in this popular series. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316111643
• ISBN-13: 978-0316111645
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.1 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Popular Characters > TV > Arthur
  • #34 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

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Because Arthur is so cool!, May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Arthur Writes a Story: An Arthur Adventure (Arthur Adventure Series) (Paperback)

I love Pal! (Arthur's dog) Arthur writes about how he got pal for school. I really like Arthur books!!!! Danielle

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It is fun to read., December 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Arthur Writes a Story: An Arthur Adventure (Arthur Adventures) (Hardcover)

Everybody should write a story. I am 5 years old and I love to write ... just like Arthur.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Story for Writing A Story!, June 13, 2008

By 

Arcturus70 "Arcturus70" (In the Orion Spur of the Milky Way Galaxy) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Arthur Writes a Story: An Arthur Adventure (Arthur Adventure Series) (Paperback)

"Write about something that is important to you," suggest Arthur's teacher, Mr. Ratburn (Page 1). And on the classroom blackboard, Mr. Ratburn has written the following directions:

"Write a story.
1. Have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
2. Use details.
3. Be creative."

There begins Arthur's exciting adventure in creative writing. He first begins with the story that HE wants to tell--"How I Got My Puppy Pal." However, as he speaks to others about his efforts, he is swayed by their suggestions and their ideas. He rewrites his story to include those items because he does not want to create a boring story that no one wants to hear or read. Consequently, his story grows away from his original message and into a wild collage of extraordinary elements that even includes Purple elephants, moon landscapes, song and dance. He presents his strange story to his family and to his shocked class, but he soon discovers, with a little guidance from Mr. Ratburn, that his original idea was the best story to tell after all. Why? His original story was from his own voice, mind, heart, and experience.

This is an excellent little book about a child's view of the writing process and the various influences on that process. The message is clear: it's fine to be your own writer and share your own ideas in your own personal way of expressing yourself. The best stories are those that have a ring of truth about them...where storyteller and story compliment each other.

This book makes a fun introduction to writing and to storytelling. It can encourage young writers to write their own stories with confidence. Even adult writing students can appreciate the books central message about "writing what you know."