From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- In this ninth story about the chimp and his family, Arthur tells Violet that her knowledge of walkingsticks and cocoons is "baby science." After all, he has been on field trips and collected specimens. The siblings get permission from their babysitter to go on their own field trip and meet up with friends Mabel and Wilma. They invite Violet to go camping with them. Arthur offers to go along to protect them, but Mabel informs him that she is in charge. Arthur goes on his own camp-out and finds himself out of breath, out of food, tired, and alone at the edge of a pond. He follows a scent and finds the campers gaily roasting hot dogs and singing songs. Arthur finds out that girls not only know how to camp but they know something about science as well. Hoban's watercolor illustrations are as refreshing as the tale, which will not only amuse young readers but also give them food for thought as well. One of Hoban's best "Arthur" tales. --Sharron McElmeel, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, IA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
In a ninth ``I Can Read'' about the popular Arthur, his smug superiority to little sister Violet is almost overstated; still, his gentle comeuppance makes a satisfying outcome. Boasting of his planned field trip, Arthur describes ``snakes--slimy things you would not like,'' but Violet responds, mildly, ``A girl in my class brought in a snake she caught...It wasn't a bit slimy. I held it in my hand.'' Arthur sets out on his trip while Violet and her friends camp out nearby, turning down his offer to ``protect'' them in the woods at night. Left alone, it's Arthur who's scared, especially of bats; the girls take him in, but not without a lecture on bats' ecological virtues. The good humor of Hoban's naturally cadenced dialogue and realistic detail mellows the message, while the childlike characters are as likable in her full-color mixed media art as in the text. (Easy reader. 4-8) --
Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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