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Arthur Adventure Series
Arthur Writes a Story: An Arthur Adventure
The class homework assignment is to write a story, and everyone seems to be writing about something interesting...except Arthur. Will he find something he cares to write about or will his story be a big mess?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
22 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Marc Brown
551 books384 followersMarc 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 16, 2019
In this book, Arthur writes a story. And as Arthur shows his story to friends and family, everyone gives him advice. And each time Arthur receives a bit of advice, he makes a change to his story. And in the end, his story doesn't look very much like his story anymore. This is a fabulous book to encourage students to write the story they want to tell, and while it's important to get feedback, students don't ever have to change their story to please everyone. A great book to start a unit on revision and to remind kids that they are the authors of their stories.
April 8, 2010
“Arthur Writes a Story” is somewhat apart of the “Pal the Puppy” trilogy as it deals with Arthur writing a story about how he got Pal from his pet business. From the mind of Marc Brown, Arthur has to write a good paper for his class, but he spends the majority of the book trying to figure out ways to make his story more interesting to hear about. “Arthur Writes a Story” is certainly a book for children who also have problems with writing a good paper for class, and the book would help them learn about writing a story that makes them feel comfortable.
Marc Brown has done it once again in detailing Arthur’s current predicament in writing the perfect story for his class. Marc Brown realistically brings out a child’s fear of being a failure in a class, as Arthur goes through the same trauma when he tries to think of everything that would make his story seem more exciting to the class, even if the story does not make any sense. I love the way that Arthur’s friends do try to help him out with his story since they inspired him to be more creative with his story. The lesson here is that children should try to pick a topic that they are most comfortable talking about and try to be creative with it, which is what Arthur does throughout the book. Marc Brown’s illustrations are as creative as ever, especially of the images where Arthur’s imagination goes wild as he thinks of purple striped elephants and elephants floating around on the moon for his story. Also, I like the way that Marc Brown makes Arthur look more human than before because now Arthur’s body strongly resembles a human body, but of course, he still has an aardvark head.
“Arthur Writes a Story” is a creative and cute little story about the importance of being creative with a story that you are most comfortable writing about. I would strongly recommend this book to children ages four and up since this book will greatly teach small children about how to write the perfect story for a class.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www1.epinions.com/review/Arthu...
Marc Brown has done it once again in detailing Arthur’s current predicament in writing the perfect story for his class. Marc Brown realistically brings out a child’s fear of being a failure in a class, as Arthur goes through the same trauma when he tries to think of everything that would make his story seem more exciting to the class, even if the story does not make any sense. I love the way that Arthur’s friends do try to help him out with his story since they inspired him to be more creative with his story. The lesson here is that children should try to pick a topic that they are most comfortable talking about and try to be creative with it, which is what Arthur does throughout the book. Marc Brown’s illustrations are as creative as ever, especially of the images where Arthur’s imagination goes wild as he thinks of purple striped elephants and elephants floating around on the moon for his story. Also, I like the way that Marc Brown makes Arthur look more human than before because now Arthur’s body strongly resembles a human body, but of course, he still has an aardvark head.
“Arthur Writes a Story” is a creative and cute little story about the importance of being creative with a story that you are most comfortable writing about. I would strongly recommend this book to children ages four and up since this book will greatly teach small children about how to write the perfect story for a class.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www1.epinions.com/review/Arthu...
February 14, 2018
sometimes the more u try to make ur story better by adding weird stuff the less interesting it becomes ... thats what arthur is teaching us in this book
July 15, 2017
One of the best Arthur books yet with lessons about putting yourself out there, using your imagination, and staying true to your own story.
April 21, 2020
Grade Level: Pre-K-3rd
Genre: Animal Fantasy
The Arthur picture book series teaches children important morals and life lessons. Arthur has to write a story for a class assignment. He is excited to start the assignment but he cannot decide on a topic to write about. The book shows children what happens when they doubt themselves and become indecisive. Arthur became too overly concerned about his peers' thoughts about his paper and forgot to finish the assignment on time.
Genre: Animal Fantasy
The Arthur picture book series teaches children important morals and life lessons. Arthur has to write a story for a class assignment. He is excited to start the assignment but he cannot decide on a topic to write about. The book shows children what happens when they doubt themselves and become indecisive. Arthur became too overly concerned about his peers' thoughts about his paper and forgot to finish the assignment on time.
March 9, 2016
One day at class, Arthur’s teacher gave the entire class an assignment to write a story about something that was important to them. Immediately, Arthur went home and began writing about his puppy. While talking with other classmates about their ideas, he begins to believe that everyone seems to have an interesting story except for him. In effort to be more creative, he came up with a new idea to write his story and would perform it in front of the class to entertain them. The day he shares his story with the class, he realizes that his original story about the puppy was truly more important him and that was the story he should have shared with the other students in the first place. In the classroom, this could show students every person has different ideas when they write a story. There is no write or wrong answer in writing. The key is to make it your own and have passion for what you are writing about. I could use this book as a foundation for students to build on when it comes to doing to their own work, being able to share ideas, but not doubt their own abilities and creativeness.
May 3, 2019
The content of this book teaches through Arthur’s experiences about how it is important to be creative and to have your own individual ideas.
The pictures are the exact replica of the words that are being said. All the depictions are either something that Arthur is thinking about or they are his surroundings. Every time he adds something to his story the consecutive pages have the ideas on them.
The theme in this book is individuality. Each person gives Arthur their own idea and he ends up adding it to his story. However, at the end his story made up of the collective thoughts of everyone isn’t good enough. The story that everyone liked was his own original story.
I wouldn’t necessarily use this book in my classroom because I don’t feel like the lesson is obvious enough. It is a good book however it’s not one I would use in a lesson. I would put it on a classroom bookshelf or show it to my kids.
The pictures are the exact replica of the words that are being said. All the depictions are either something that Arthur is thinking about or they are his surroundings. Every time he adds something to his story the consecutive pages have the ideas on them.
The theme in this book is individuality. Each person gives Arthur their own idea and he ends up adding it to his story. However, at the end his story made up of the collective thoughts of everyone isn’t good enough. The story that everyone liked was his own original story.
I wouldn’t necessarily use this book in my classroom because I don’t feel like the lesson is obvious enough. It is a good book however it’s not one I would use in a lesson. I would put it on a classroom bookshelf or show it to my kids.
August 10, 2018
Arthur's confusion find Ally became a success for him.
I liked the plot, images and the moral of theirs a I got fromm this book was not to go around ask my or telling others what they think you should write but to just do the work and then perhaps share it when one has completed the story first. So I'm updating recommend this for others who may find themselves in Arthur's shoes. I wished to recommend this rating for all the above statements. Sunny.
I liked the plot, images and the moral of theirs a I got fromm this book was not to go around ask my or telling others what they think you should write but to just do the work and then perhaps share it when one has completed the story first. So I'm updating recommend this for others who may find themselves in Arthur's shoes. I wished to recommend this rating for all the above statements. Sunny.
June 16, 2008
This book is a great read for early elementary students because it discusses the writing process. Arthur begins by choosing a topic for his paper, adding new ideas, and changing certain parts. In the end, Arthur must choose the best idea, the one that means the most to him, to write about. I would definitely recommend this book for early elementary students, especially during writing workshop.
June 30, 2010
I appreciate that this book shows a student how to write a short story - great overview of writing. If you home school, it is nice when the teaching comes from another direction.
September 17, 2019
I didn't like this story. It's not what I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be about a cute, creative story but it was all over the place and I didn't like how it ended.
It launched right in the middle of the story, with no introduction or easing into it. Mr. Ratburn was already explaining the homework he had assigned, telling the class to write about something important to them. I thought it was going to be useful for kids on how to write, because the illustration of the chalk board had rules on how to write a story. It had to have a beginning, middle, and end. Use details and be creative.
Arthur wrote a story about how a dog in his pet business had puppies and he was able to keep one and it's his dog now. Not a great story, but what he wanted to write. He tried it out on DW but she thought it was boring. She told him to write it about an elephant. He talked to Arthur and found out he was writing about space and felt like his should be about space too. Brain told him stories should be well-researched so Arthur went to the library to research elephants.
It was amusing that when Francine asked what all the books were for he said "I'm writing about my pet five-toed mammal of the genus Loxodonta."
Francine said she was putting jokes in hers. So once again, it was back to the drawing board. At supper Arthur announced he'd have purple corn and blue elephants on Planet Shmellafint, trying to be funny. The next day a girl told him that she an A writing a western song, so Arthur changed his story yet again, made it into a song and a dance.
He tested it out on his family and they didn't really go for it. His grandma said it was confusing, and his parents just smiled in that way that parents do. I was embarrassed for him. But it was funny that DW said "Too bad you can't dance." I expected him to scrap the whole idea and realize he should be himself. But there he was at school doing the whole song and dance, with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and radio.
The class was quiet after, and one kid stupidly asked if that really happened. What a stupid question. A made-up planet with purple elephants. Did that really need to be asked? Of course it didn't happen. Arthur said it started as the story of how he got his dog and Mr. Ratburn said he'd like to hear that story. The author tried to make more out of what was really a boring story, with Arthur telling how proud he was to have his pet business, how scared he was when the dog disappeared, and how happy he was to find her under his bed, and then how surprised to find the puppies, and how he got to keep one. It was like a laundry list, a roller coaster leading from one emotion to another. How this. How that. It was tedious.
But the first worst part was that Buster said he liked this story better than the other one. Binky said it was a great story. Francine said his was the best. I highly doubt that. In a classroom full of kids I don't think this story of pride, fright, happiness, and surprise would beat anything. He got a puppy, pretty average. Mr. Ratburn said good work and he expected him to write it down by Monday. But he did say to leave out the dancing and Arthur looked embarrassed.
I didn't like the lesson. He should have realized long before that he shouldn't have copied everyone else and tried to be like them. He should have been himself before he got to the presentation and made a fool of himself. And he didn't deserve to have the best story because he had copied others and tried to take their ideas from them. He was going crazy remaking his story into what everyone else was doing. He should have gotten a bad grade for being all over the place, and learned that he should always be himself or else there are consequences. He got a free pass when he shouldn't have and I hope kids can figure out this message themselves because there was no wrap-up or summary at the end. It should have said something like Arthur learned not to listen to others and stick with his original ideas and be himself.
It launched right in the middle of the story, with no introduction or easing into it. Mr. Ratburn was already explaining the homework he had assigned, telling the class to write about something important to them. I thought it was going to be useful for kids on how to write, because the illustration of the chalk board had rules on how to write a story. It had to have a beginning, middle, and end. Use details and be creative.
Arthur wrote a story about how a dog in his pet business had puppies and he was able to keep one and it's his dog now. Not a great story, but what he wanted to write. He tried it out on DW but she thought it was boring. She told him to write it about an elephant. He talked to Arthur and found out he was writing about space and felt like his should be about space too. Brain told him stories should be well-researched so Arthur went to the library to research elephants.
It was amusing that when Francine asked what all the books were for he said "I'm writing about my pet five-toed mammal of the genus Loxodonta."
Francine said she was putting jokes in hers. So once again, it was back to the drawing board. At supper Arthur announced he'd have purple corn and blue elephants on Planet Shmellafint, trying to be funny. The next day a girl told him that she an A writing a western song, so Arthur changed his story yet again, made it into a song and a dance.
He tested it out on his family and they didn't really go for it. His grandma said it was confusing, and his parents just smiled in that way that parents do. I was embarrassed for him. But it was funny that DW said "Too bad you can't dance." I expected him to scrap the whole idea and realize he should be himself. But there he was at school doing the whole song and dance, with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and radio.
The class was quiet after, and one kid stupidly asked if that really happened. What a stupid question. A made-up planet with purple elephants. Did that really need to be asked? Of course it didn't happen. Arthur said it started as the story of how he got his dog and Mr. Ratburn said he'd like to hear that story. The author tried to make more out of what was really a boring story, with Arthur telling how proud he was to have his pet business, how scared he was when the dog disappeared, and how happy he was to find her under his bed, and then how surprised to find the puppies, and how he got to keep one. It was like a laundry list, a roller coaster leading from one emotion to another. How this. How that. It was tedious.
But the first worst part was that Buster said he liked this story better than the other one. Binky said it was a great story. Francine said his was the best. I highly doubt that. In a classroom full of kids I don't think this story of pride, fright, happiness, and surprise would beat anything. He got a puppy, pretty average. Mr. Ratburn said good work and he expected him to write it down by Monday. But he did say to leave out the dancing and Arthur looked embarrassed.
I didn't like the lesson. He should have realized long before that he shouldn't have copied everyone else and tried to be like them. He should have been himself before he got to the presentation and made a fool of himself. And he didn't deserve to have the best story because he had copied others and tried to take their ideas from them. He was going crazy remaking his story into what everyone else was doing. He should have gotten a bad grade for being all over the place, and learned that he should always be himself or else there are consequences. He got a free pass when he shouldn't have and I hope kids can figure out this message themselves because there was no wrap-up or summary at the end. It should have said something like Arthur learned not to listen to others and stick with his original ideas and be himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2022
I grew up watching Arthur the animated television series growing up, even throughout high school. It was on in the morning while I got ready. I enjoyed it. But I don't recall ever reading one of the books. Arthur Writes a Story (1996) by Marc Brown is a great book, not just because I'm a fan of the series, but because of what it tells the reader about writing. In school, the class is told to write a story, so Arthur writes about how he got his dog, Pal, only when he starts sharing his story, everybody wants to change it to their liking. A wonderful lesson in how more is not always better, and to not stray too far away from your original idea, because it'll come out not being your story at all. Every writer should read and remember that. My rating - 5/5
July 12, 2022
There's something to be said for taking the advice of a good editor when writing. But trying to change your work to be what someone else's is? Never a good idea.
Arthur is writing a story for school. The problem is, he doesn't have a lot of confidence in his writing (in part, thanks to D.W.. Though why Arthur ever listens to his LITTLE SISTER is beyond me). As a result, he keeps trying to make his story 'better' doing what everyone else is when he should have just kept his story the same all along.
I liked this story a lot because it reflects so accurately what so many writers do. I can't say it enough - write what's on your heart! (and don't listen to the critics!)
Arthur is writing a story for school. The problem is, he doesn't have a lot of confidence in his writing (in part, thanks to D.W.. Though why Arthur ever listens to his LITTLE SISTER is beyond me). As a result, he keeps trying to make his story 'better' doing what everyone else is when he should have just kept his story the same all along.
I liked this story a lot because it reflects so accurately what so many writers do. I can't say it enough - write what's on your heart! (and don't listen to the critics!)
April 15, 2020
Arthur writes a story is a good book to encourage children for writing and the steps of good writing. The story is very detailed but also could be read for the younger children. The story makes writing sound so much fun which will encourage the children to want to write, or even let the younger ones explore and use different writing tools and draw a story. Very detailed illustrations, I love how the story ended in a funny way by telling Arthur to leave the dancing out It will give the children a laugh.
August 30, 2017
"Arthur Writes a Story" was a good book for children, probably best for children around 2nd or 3rd grade learning to write stories. It goes over how to write in a fun and exciting way. The take away is that you should write about what you like and what you know about. The illustrations were great and went along with the book well.
October 11, 2025
Cute. The only Arthur book I've read so no basis for comparison.
I just really don't like the way too many people said he can't & mustn't dance - the point of dancing is to have fun, exercise, be creative, build new synapses, and it should be encouraged.
I just really don't like the way too many people said he can't & mustn't dance - the point of dancing is to have fun, exercise, be creative, build new synapses, and it should be encouraged.
September 1, 2017
I really liked this book. The pictures really enhanced the text and were detailed.The message of the book is very good to teach children, that everyone creates a good story
April 19, 2018
Everyone loves and knows about Arthur. Guides children to brainstorm and use their creative side.
December 5, 2018
Good book for students learning how to write, don't make it too difficult!
May 20, 2019
Great book about getting caught up in others' ideas and staying true to yourself.
September 11, 2019
Cute because it encourages writing stories.
March 7, 2020
read to kids while dressed poorly as arthur. ten out of ten they giggled and had fun.
July 3, 2020
Good message about writing about what you know and not trying to impress others.
August 21, 2020
Arthur has a homework assignment, to write a story - all of his friends can find a good topic, except for him. What he decides to do is insteresting!
November 13, 2020
This modern fantasy story focuses on Arthur and a school writing assignment. I think this book would be best used along with a writing workshop because the story does detail the writing process. I did like that the story did show Arthur editing his story constantly because it is very true to the writing process.
July 8, 2021
Alissa and I talked about having confidence in your own ideas.
July 30, 2022
Good story about writing YOUR story and not listening to everyone's advice. I can relate.
March 21, 2024
4.5 ⭐️s
January 30, 2025
I knew how the ending would turn out, but it’s still a lovely story. It also teaches kids how to write their own stories in a genuine and creative way.
March 12, 2025
A must read for every aspiring writer. I'm a grown ass adult in university and I read this book again because I was going through writer's block
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews