Arthur’s Fantastic Party

Author and Illustrator: Joseph Theobold 

Year: 2005

Publisher: Collins Big Cat, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Arthur plans to host an exciting party but only for fantastic animals. So who really are the fantastic animals? The three little pigs who love mud or the wolf who likes dressing up or the bear family that can cook good porridge? Oh dear!

I’d recommend this book to young readers for two reasons. One, the detailed illustrations and the bright colors make for a very happy reading time. Two, this story drives home the point that all of us are fantastic in our own way – something every child ought to know at a very young age before the world’s cut-throat competitiveness attempts to ruin the self esteem of the little one.

Excerpt

Arthur said, “Are you fantastic?”

“We make good porridge,” said the bears.

“Yuk! That doesn’t sound fantastic to me,” Arthur said. “You can’t come!”

That evening, Arthur put out the food and drinks. He was ready to party!

But something was wrong …

Arthur’s Lost Puppy

Author: Marc Brown

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Publisher: Random House, New York

Year: 2000

ISBN: 978-0-67988-466-8

This delightful book not only features the colorful world of Arthur as seen on television but is complimented with fun stickers of key words like balloons and clowns that children can use to stick wherever the respective word appears.

Arthur and D.W. take Baby Kate to the street fair where she has lots of fun until she starts crying. Arthur is left clueless but little Pal knows and finds a way to get what she wants – a balloon!

This book belongs to the Random House Step into Reading 3 series, an initiative to encourage reading among children using creative tools.

Excerpt

The balloons rose higher and higher.

Over the roofs, over the trees, up, up, up they went.

And so did Pal!

“Look!” someone shouted.

“A flying puppy!”