Arthur Accused

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

(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.

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.