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Arty The Smarty
A Classic!
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
1 person is currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Faith McNulty
52 books21 followersFaith McNulty was an American nonfiction author, probably best-known for her 1980 book The Burning Bed. She was born "Faith Corrigan" in New York City, the daughter of a judge. Young Faith attended Barnard College for one year, then attended Rhode Island State College. But she dropped out of college once she got a job as a copy girl at the New York Daily News. She later went to work for Life magazine. She worked for the U.S. Office of War Information in London during World War II.
McNulty was a wildlife writer at The New Yorker magazine for several years. In 1980, a collection of her New Yorker work was published as The Wildlife Stories of Faith McNulty. For many years, she edited the annual New Yorker compilation of the year's best children's books.
She also frequently wrote children's books on wildlife, including How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World in 1979 and When I Lived with Bats in 1998. Her 1966 book The Whooping Crane: The Bird that Defies Distinction was written for adults.
Her husband, John McNulty, was also a writer for The New Yorker and with Thomas Wolf, Truman Capote, and Gay Talese, a major figure in the development of the literary genre of creative nonfiction, which is also known as literary journalism or literature in fact. After her husband died in 1956, she remarried, to Richard Martin, a set designer and an inventive designer of set props.
The Burning Bed told the true story of Francine Hughes, who set fire to the bedroom in which her husband was sleeping. Hughes defended herself by saying that her husband had been abusing her for 13 years. The jury at her trial ruled that she had been temporarily insane, and she was found not guilty.
"I can remember my father in his nightshirt, digging for worms for the baby robin in the bathroom. That's the kind of household it was; I had woodchucks in the bathroom, cats, squirrels, chipmunks," McNulty once said.
Toward the end of her life, she wrote a weekly column for The Providence Journal on a local animal shelter run by the Animal Welfare League. Her mother had founded the Animal Welfare League in southern Rhode Island. McNulty had long been known for taking in stray animals at her farm.
She suffered a stroke in 2004. She died at her farm in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
McNulty was a wildlife writer at The New Yorker magazine for several years. In 1980, a collection of her New Yorker work was published as The Wildlife Stories of Faith McNulty. For many years, she edited the annual New Yorker compilation of the year's best children's books.
She also frequently wrote children's books on wildlife, including How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World in 1979 and When I Lived with Bats in 1998. Her 1966 book The Whooping Crane: The Bird that Defies Distinction was written for adults.
Her husband, John McNulty, was also a writer for The New Yorker and with Thomas Wolf, Truman Capote, and Gay Talese, a major figure in the development of the literary genre of creative nonfiction, which is also known as literary journalism or literature in fact. After her husband died in 1956, she remarried, to Richard Martin, a set designer and an inventive designer of set props.
The Burning Bed told the true story of Francine Hughes, who set fire to the bedroom in which her husband was sleeping. Hughes defended herself by saying that her husband had been abusing her for 13 years. The jury at her trial ruled that she had been temporarily insane, and she was found not guilty.
"I can remember my father in his nightshirt, digging for worms for the baby robin in the bathroom. That's the kind of household it was; I had woodchucks in the bathroom, cats, squirrels, chipmunks," McNulty once said.
Toward the end of her life, she wrote a weekly column for The Providence Journal on a local animal shelter run by the Animal Welfare League. Her mother had founded the Animal Welfare League in southern Rhode Island. McNulty had long been known for taking in stray animals at her farm.
She suffered a stroke in 2004. She died at her farm in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 28, 2007
Perhaps the most influential book I've read in my life. I am who I am in part because of this book.
September 29, 2022
I was gifted this book after a conversation I had with a coworker about our favourite childhood books. I had mentioned that I loved the book Arty the Smarty as a child and that it’s not one that I’ve seen anywhere as an adult, nor have people heard of it. This book still holds a very special place in my heart and I wish more children could read it.
February 17, 2017
This book is why I swim this way when all the fish swim that way.
July 25, 2013
One of two favorites as a young child. My grandmother never tired of reading this to me. So glad I was able to find a copy to read to my children, and they to theirs.
October 25, 2011
The first book I ever bought at a book fair when I was in 1st grade. Still a favorite. It had such a profound influence on me that it will be a part of me forever.
November 18, 2012
Just the best book of all time.
February 10, 2014
This book was a favorite a long time ago when I was young; enough of a favorite to remember it into middle age. On first glance there is no reason for liking it so much, it is printed on cheap newspaper type paper, the pictures have only two colors- black and green, and every picture in the book is of very simply drawn fish- over and over. The reason for its appeal though written on a first grade reading level is that it has a great story to tell. It "is the story of a little fish. His name was Arty and he was a smarty." I loved reading this book over and over.
November 4, 2017
"Originally published by Wonder Books in 1962, Faith McNulty’s Arty The Smarty was far and away the favorite book of mine as a child. When I recently came across my own childhood copy of this little treasure, it all came back to me as to why this particular book was so beloved. It was about a resourceful fish whose very difference from the other fishes made him special. It came as a shock, how much it resonated with me (and I have to wonder if there were any other gay/lesbian people who cherished this story as I did). Also, the snappy, clean illustrations by Albert Aquino were a revelation – exactly the style of illustration that I’m attempting to do to this day! I still don’t know much about Mr. Aquino and his career, but I really have to shake his hand for doing such great work on this book." - Scrubbles.net review, May 2, 2012.
May 1, 2010
This is a cute story about a little fish who wants to make a big splash, literally. Along the way Arty goes through all sorts of adventures even though his other fish friends warn him not to. Arty doesn't listen to the other fish and discovers that sometimes when you go for what you want, you get it.
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: K-2nd
Topic: You can do anything you set your mind to.
Written by Faith McNulty and Illustrated by Albert Aquino
Published in 1962 by Wonder Books, Inc.
Illustrations: The pictures in this story are simple but good. They allow children to reference the illustrations as a source but focus on reading.
Uses: Read Aloud, Independent Reading. I would have children who are beginning to read on their own read this story.
Notes: The story is great because it allows beginner readers to see repetition in reading, which makes it easier for them to get started.
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: K-2nd
Topic: You can do anything you set your mind to.
Written by Faith McNulty and Illustrated by Albert Aquino
Published in 1962 by Wonder Books, Inc.
Illustrations: The pictures in this story are simple but good. They allow children to reference the illustrations as a source but focus on reading.
Uses: Read Aloud, Independent Reading. I would have children who are beginning to read on their own read this story.
Notes: The story is great because it allows beginner readers to see repetition in reading, which makes it easier for them to get started.
July 2, 2018
Best. Book. Ever.
August 27, 2019
My grandmother had this book at her house and I always loved Arty for being such a rebel and for being different. I read it to my daughter from the library many years ago and then we could not find it again for ages. My daughter found it and surprised me with it and I love it to pieces as much as I ever did. Arty is a smarty and he has a big plan to make a big splash. He is creative and adventurous!
September 28, 2024
My favorite book as a child. I took its lesson about being a leader vs. a follower and using your brain to heart! I still have my threadbare copy, as well as a Spanish version my mother found at a garage sale. I treasure both!
May 14, 2019
Very, very cute story.
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May 27, 2020Favorite book. Have it for almost 50 years. Arty is a genius.
June 3, 2023
My very favorite book as a youngster. I still have the book, after all these years!
April 8, 2025
I loved reading this book as a child. I now want to find a copy to read to my granddaughter. It’s a fantastic story. Bring it back!
October 15, 2025
This was my absolute favourite book as a young child. I read it over and over and over again. Because of Arty, I felt like I could do anything.
March 26, 2007
dont do what youre told. fight crabs. save fellow fish.
December 5, 2010
This was one of my favorite books as a little girl!
July 28, 2013
My second children's book. My favorite!
March 16, 2015
See my book review about ARTY THE SMARTY on my blog at http://thewriteplace1.blogspot.com/
September 26, 2016
This is the first book I have a memory of reading. Since I actually remember it, it must have made a huge impression on the pre-school version of me!
July 6, 2007
Read this masterpiece about a million and a half times. Never gets old!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews