Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest: A Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Book #4 (Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Books) - Hardcover

Marc Brown, who was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1946, received great encouragement and support from his grandmother and uncle. Inspired by the books of Maurice Sendak, Brown decided to pursue his ambition of becoming an illustrator. After receiving a B.F.A. in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art, he worked as a TV art director, a professor of mechanical drawing, and a freelance illustrator, before becoming a writer. In his books, he addresses the fears and problems which children face and events like friendship, family, school and pets. For his illustrations, Brown uses pencil with watercolor on a variety of papers to achieve different visual effects. The "Arthur" series, about the everyday adventures of a lovable aardvark, began in 1976 and continues to this day with 25 titles published. Brown has also created other series such as the "Rhymes" series, and the nonfiction "Dinosaur" series, which conveys messages of do's and don'ts. These series, like the stories of Arthur, hold the attention of young children while transporting their imaginations on magical journeys.

Grade 2-3-Arthur's picture-book fans who are ready for an increased reading challenge will embrace these books, and those who enjoy the PBS TV show will no doubt recognize the same quality in the book version. The young aardvark needs to come up with a winning jingle for The Crunch Cereal Contest, but his attempts fall short until he is inspired by a little ditty he overhears D. W. hum. He sends in his entry, only to struggle with feelings of not being altogether honest. In the end, he proves he is a winner in both ability and integrity. In Arthur Makes the Team, Arthur has difficulty learning all of the nuances of baseball. His main problem is the ball-it simply will not cooperate with his mitt. Francine's constant criticism is a big obstacle, too, but they manage to overcome their conflict by realizing that team members need to help one another on and off the field. The story lines are simple and the plots move along at a smooth, entertaining pace. The subtle humor is right on target for the intended audience. The characters are fully developed and interact well together. The black-and-white illustrations provide a nice break for readers moving into chapter books.
Pam Hopper Webb, Sandpoint Community Christian School, ID
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.