Dinner at Alberta's

Arthur Crocodile

by Russell Hoban, James Marshall

Arthur Crocodile cannot seem to learn table manners until his sister brings her new girlfriend to visit

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Fiction, Childrens, Humor

Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Russell Conwell Hoban was an American expatriate writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in London, England, from 1969 until his death. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur feels like his family is picking on him and refuses to improve his table manners. When the girl saurian he has a crush on invites him over, can he improve in time to make a good impression?

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur Crocodile has terrible table manners, but when his sister Emma invites her friend Alberta for dinner, Arthur is smitten. When the invitation is returned, Arthur has a week to prepare and improve his table manners before dinner at Alberta's.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this in April 1975 issue of Cricket magazine.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published back in 1972, Arthur (a crocodile) shows poor table manners whilst eating with his family. He's quite happy to ignore the reprimands until his sister invites him to meet the rather beautiful Alberta. Suddenly he's all for behaving and serenading but the beauty lies in the last page when Arthur reflects on what manners really mean. Absolutely hilarious such a play on cultural norms and I loved Arthur for giving them a rather impish flush. Marshall's illustrations of Arthur and his family, as well as the Saurians, are just excellent - what a quirky, tongue-in-cheek early reader.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arthur the crocodile has bad table manners, but makes an effort to improve them when he falls for his sister's new friend, Alberta. Brother and sister get ready for dinner at Alberta's and Arthur learns that his new habits are infectious when he notices Alberta's little brother mimicking his table manners.

Marshall's illustrations appear in a sepia palette and do a great job of expressing Arthur's various emotions. I especially liked the pictures that showed him playing his guitar because his tiny arms on the long neck of the guitar cracked me up!

[Ruth Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just funny and brilliant.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur didn't care about his eating manners until his sister's friend Alberta invited him and Emma to her house for dinner. While at Alberta's house Arthur displayed how his manners had improved, and he even got the opportunity after dinner to teach Alberta's brother Sidney some manners while visiting his tree house.

[Susan Beecher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very funny book.

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checked out from the library because it was illustrated by James Marshall. As good the books he authored? Well, no. But it's still cute. And has an interesting plot point. It's a bit heavy handed about good manners, but still fun.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

CUTE! :) a sweet story about manners and young crushing