Arthur's Reading Race Beginner Books

by Marc Brown

Arthur doesn't believe that his little sister can really read, so he challenges her to prove it.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, School, 1st Grade, Family, 2nd Grade

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Marc Tolon Brown is perhaps best known for his series of children's books about Arthur the aardvark, which was turned into an animated television show on PBS. Brown is a three-time Emmy Award winner, for his role on the television show inspired by his books.

He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for early readers.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another bland Arthur book.

In this one he doesn't believe his sister's boast that she can read, so he bets her an ice cream cone she can't read ten words. They wander around letting D.W. read labels and signs that could be easily guessed based on context, making the challenge a little meaningless. And they don't include one four-word sign that D.W. does read in her total count.

I'll leave this book and Arthur to the kids for whom they are intended.

[Juli19 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the book. It is a story that many children experience when they start learning to read, and the book is very attractive to children because it comes with stickers so children can have fun matching the pictures with the spelling of the word.

[layla]

“arthur learned to read in school. now arthur reads EVERYWHERE! he reads in the car. he reads in bed. he reads to his puppy, pal.”

i am arthur, arthur is me

[Maddeline Broadwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 5 stars because I liked how Arthur was teaching his sister to read and I like his little sister DW. She was funny and I like she how she was a little bit sassy

[Sophie Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute story from Marc Brown. A quick and fun story for a beginning reader, With a Very Witty End.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember checking this book out of my school library (as well as a lot of other Arthur titles) all the time! I love it!

[Destiny Valenzano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur’s Reading Race is a great book for children that want to start reading bigger books. Kids will love the illustrations throughout the book and will want to keep reading the book till it ends.It also keeps the child that is reading wanting to know what happens next and see who will win the reading race.
The book is very relatable because brothers and sisters always make something a competitions. One of them always have to make it a competition just because they think they can do better than their sibling. It also gave me the impression that Arthur and D.W have that bond that siblings have.
The impact of the book is that the book was made to connect to the reader. The book says so words and the reader just wants to find the words in the book. It’s like a little game inside the book to make it a little more fun.
The words were the right size for the book and the pages. There are more words on each page, but it is a book for kids that want to read more and try something a little harder for them. The pictures are also a great part of the book. The words are on the pictures and it just looks nice.
The elements of the book are easy to read even though it is has a lot more words for kids. The book it’s also funny and it makes the reader laugh. The book has an adventure and goes around there town. The design of the book is very colorful and has nice detail to everything. The words are also most of the time on a white background the reader is able to see the word.

[JD JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthurs Reading Race by Marc Brown is a sweet and humorous tale about the relationship between a big brother and his litter sister. The big brother finally learned to read and was giving his sister attitude about how she couldn’t read; when she was saying she could. So they went out around town and she read signs proving that she could read. Then when he pulled out a book to mock her for not being able to read the book he stepped in wet paint and the sister remarked that he obviously couldn’t read “wet paint”. There are many themes in this book from family to love and the power of the written word. This book is a great book to have in your classroom, for beginning readers, because its use of simply language makes it easy to read! This story could also really relate to young children who are feeling mocked by their older siblings for not being able to do what they can do. Moreover, the illustration in this book are lovely with light colors and rounded soft edges which make the tale more lighthearted and sweet.

[Gerardo Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I chose the book Arthur's Reading Race by Marc Brown. This book is fantastically illustrated, well structure, and entertaining. The illustrations help provide the reader with real-life images and scenarios they more than likely have experienced. It told a pretty amusing story of a brother and sister getting into a friendly wager. The older brother just started to learn to read because he started going to school. He practiced his new skill everywhere. Even though his sister is younger she could read, and he did not believe her. As you read the book you can see she knows how to read better than him.
I chose this book because it showed another young child being excited about reading. Then it gave an example of his younger sister showing him up and revealing how smart she is. The book makes reading look fun and entertaining to the reader. The ability to read is portrayed as useful. The reader is given so many incentives as to why being able to read is important.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Arthur so I really liked this book. It's an easy read so I read it quickly, but the illustrations are awesome, like always, and the story was good too.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

I liked how Arthur wasn't upset that D.W. knew ten words and how he offered to read to her. The ending was funny as well. Great for anyone who loves Arthur and/or who just began to read more.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur promises to buy ice cream for his little sister, D.W., if she can read ten words. The twosome race to the park, where D.W. is quick to recognize signs such as ZOO, DON'T WALK, POLICE, and ICE CREAM. When she reads WET PAINT before her big brother does, Arthur is in for a colorful surprise!

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to skip all Arthur books that I've already read with Ben and only read and review the ones I haven't. I mean, who is going to object to an Arthur book, right? But still.

This is cute and a good early reader.

[Rosalyn Mobley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book about Arthur offering to teach his younger sister to read. She turns down his offer by announcing she already know how to read. They set out to prove it with a treat of ice cream for her if she is right.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur doesn’t believe that DW can read. He challenges her to read ten words and then he will buy her ice cream. She ends up showing him that being observant is important to reading.

Loved these characters since I was young.

[Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2021
Gift from Harper's grandmother

It was okay. But I felt like it was more of D.W. tricking Arthur into thinking she knew how to read by using context clues. I mean, she grew up in that town, so it's not like she wouldn't know where the zoo was. Or what a police car looked like.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never make a bet with your sister about their knowledge. You will lose. The Arthur books are very colorful and descriptive. DW and Aurthur have a wager about whether she can read.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book to introduce environmental print and to show new readers there are lots of words they're already reading!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me of my younger days reading almost all of the Arthur books my library had. So cute.

[Scout Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love almost everything new-Arthur (don't love the old-style illustrations but the stories are usually good). Another good book by Marc Brown.

[Jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure D.W. was making the most of context clues to “read” words and dupe her arrogant brother into paying for ice cream.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for reading binners

[Ashley Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing book that encourages reading in young children. Students could also be heavily involved with this book.

[Raizy]

Ironic ending!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was comical in Arthur's haste for word counting, DW wins by recognizing "wet paint" before Arthur does!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to the story.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice story time book read. Nice illustrations and plenty of words per page.

[Rick Christiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasent, easy read for a beginner book.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great book

[allyson skibinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Beginner Book