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Arthur Adventure Series
Arthur Babysits
D.W. volunteers Arthur to babysit the terrible Tibble twins, notorious for their mischief. The situation gets out of control, but Arthur comes up with a great idea to get the twins to behave. Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.
30 pages, Board Book
First published October 1, 1992
24 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Marc Brown
548 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 51 reviews
April 8, 2010
“Arthur Babysits” is another one of Marc Brown’s fantastic “Arthur” series about the importance of responsibility. In this story, Arthur has his hands full as he baby-sits a pair of troublesome twins when their mother is out of town. “Arthur Babysits” is truly a cute tale about the trials of babysitting that children will love for many years.
Marc Brown has done it again as he writes a brilliant story about the importance of being responsible when babysitting other people’s children. I love the way that Arthur was worried about taking on this huge responsibility of taking care of the twins by himself until his parents reassure him that everything will turn out alright at the end. This indicates the problems that most children will experience throughout their lives, even if they are not taking care of other people’s kids, but they still have to deal with being responsible for their actions and this book clearly details the trials of responsibility that Arthur has to go through when he is babysitting the twins. Marc Brown’s illustrations are creative as all the main characters are humanoid animals, with the exception of the Tibble twins. I love the way that Marc Brown makes the Tibble twins the only human beings in this story, which I found to be quite unusual for most of Marc Brown’s Arthur books as most of the characters are animals.
“Arthur Babysits” is a wonderful story about the importance of responsibility when taking care of other people’s children and how one must be smart when dealing with troublesome children. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate about this book.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www1.epinions.com/review/Arthu...
Marc Brown has done it again as he writes a brilliant story about the importance of being responsible when babysitting other people’s children. I love the way that Arthur was worried about taking on this huge responsibility of taking care of the twins by himself until his parents reassure him that everything will turn out alright at the end. This indicates the problems that most children will experience throughout their lives, even if they are not taking care of other people’s kids, but they still have to deal with being responsible for their actions and this book clearly details the trials of responsibility that Arthur has to go through when he is babysitting the twins. Marc Brown’s illustrations are creative as all the main characters are humanoid animals, with the exception of the Tibble twins. I love the way that Marc Brown makes the Tibble twins the only human beings in this story, which I found to be quite unusual for most of Marc Brown’s Arthur books as most of the characters are animals.
“Arthur Babysits” is a wonderful story about the importance of responsibility when taking care of other people’s children and how one must be smart when dealing with troublesome children. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate about this book.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www1.epinions.com/review/Arthu...
April 9, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book and seeing what would happen because I really didn't know what the conclusion would be. I think this book would be good to teach students beginning, middle, and end because all the 3 parts can be easily described and pointed out. The beginning arthur offered to babysit. The middle Arthur got nervous and at first did a bad job babysitting. The end he calmed the boys down with a story and was asked to babysit again.
November 30, 2016
Arthur learns the power of using fear to control others. DW, amused, watches from the shadows.
February 27, 2020
When D.W. volunteers her brother Arthur to babysit for the Terrible Tibble Twins, he is worried it will be miserable chaos. As he feared, the twins immediately play all sorts of naughty tricks on him. D.W. calls Arthur with advice while he is babysitting, but her tactics only make the situation worse. It is up to Arthur to use his own ingenuity to keep the house intact and the twins and himself out of danger until Mrs. Tibble gets home.
A major theme in this book is the power of using creativity to solve difficult situations.
I enjoyed Arthur Babysits because the situation in the book is unfortunate, funny, and believable. The illustrations work well to enhance the text beyond what the words alone convey, especially with the characters facial expressions that show us their reactions. I liked the twist in the plot and Arthur's character as he succeeds in a situation where everyone, including himself, expected him to fail.
I recommend this book because the characters, plot, and illustrations all work together to tell a captivating and fulfilling story that will reflect experiences of many readers. The different humorous interactions can be appreciated be readers of different ages.
A major theme in this book is the power of using creativity to solve difficult situations.
I enjoyed Arthur Babysits because the situation in the book is unfortunate, funny, and believable. The illustrations work well to enhance the text beyond what the words alone convey, especially with the characters facial expressions that show us their reactions. I liked the twist in the plot and Arthur's character as he succeeds in a situation where everyone, including himself, expected him to fail.
I recommend this book because the characters, plot, and illustrations all work together to tell a captivating and fulfilling story that will reflect experiences of many readers. The different humorous interactions can be appreciated be readers of different ages.
December 4, 2016
1) Book summary,: Arthur's finally get the opportunity to babysits. Arthur's planned out the whole day for the children but once that time finally came it was not what he expected. The children lept moving around and getting into everything. Finally, Arthur was able to calm the children down by reading to them.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile: PreK-3rd, ages 4-8, and 350L
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area): Reading block
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading: Every child would benefit from reading this book
5) Small group use (literary circles): I wouldn't use this book during small group use
6) Whole class use (read aloud) : I wouldn't use this as whole class either. This would be a book the students can read just to enjoy
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area: Arthur's Chicken Pox, Arthur Meets the Presidents
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available: School & Library Binding, Paperback, Boardbook
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile: PreK-3rd, ages 4-8, and 350L
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area): Reading block
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading: Every child would benefit from reading this book
5) Small group use (literary circles): I wouldn't use this book during small group use
6) Whole class use (read aloud) : I wouldn't use this as whole class either. This would be a book the students can read just to enjoy
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area: Arthur's Chicken Pox, Arthur Meets the Presidents
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available: School & Library Binding, Paperback, Boardbook
April 27, 2018
I read this book because it was on my school's pillars of character list for responsibility. I know Arthur is a popular series, but somehow I've made it this long never having read one of the books or watched the cartoon. I like his little family and it is interesting that his family isn't humans while there are humans in the book. I don't remember seeing a mixture like that much in picture books. Usually they are all human or all other kinds of animals. That aside, it was a run-of-the-mill character-babysitting-for-terrible-children book with all the usual babysitting disaster stereotypes. He does his best and everyone ends up alive, so success! I hope he will be a better babysitter than I was. :)
December 10, 2018
Arthur hears DW complaining about dealing with the Tibble twins, and Arthur chimes in that it can't be bad, so she volunteers him to baby-sit them one night, and trouble ensues. It doesn't help that DW keeps calling Arthur with unhelpful suggestions, but this was a cute little story. My only question is, isn't Arthur in third grade? And he's entrusted with baby-sitting kids?
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March 4, 2020Arthur's experience babysitting for the terrible Tibble twins is more challenging than he expected! The feisty little ones almost get the best of the adorable aardvark, but he is finally able to settle them down with an imaginative story.
October 17, 2020
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. 3 stars & 3/10 hearts. Arthur’s babysitting adventure is not very exaggerated. ;) His scheme to calm the kids is either brilliant or crazy… fortunately for him, it turned out brilliant! D.W.’s advice was also quite humorous.
September 19, 2017
When I was little I loved reading Arthur books and I still do.
July 7, 2019
Love Arthur!
July 18, 2021
This is a fun one!
October 14, 2021
So, Arthur has to baby-sit the twins. And he is overwhelmed too start. Then he tell them a "scary storie"
July 22, 2022
I do like how Arthur uses his wits to get out of the pickles he finds himself in. Love D.W.
May 27, 2023
That was fairly funny - I enjoyed the siblings pranking each other and Maddie loved the scary story Arthur tells.
April 8, 2025
I like this one anytime of year.
February 3, 2024
Arthur is asked to babysit Mrs. Tibble's twin grandsons, whom his sister DW knows can be troublesome. She gives him lots of advice when they get out of control, until Arthur finally discovers a way to rein them in. Cute story with great illustrations.
March 14, 2017
No one wants to babysit the Tibble Twins! Everyone runs and hides from them. Arthur isn't scared though or is he? He goes and tries and although they are a handful he does uses his head and out smarts him (and his little sister) A fun baby sitter book!
October 11, 2009
Everyone loves Arthur books! This one was about Arthur babysitting someone besides his sisters for the first time: the tibble twins! Before he goes, his sister and all his friends talk to him about how horrible the boys are and Arthur gets really nervous! As soon as he gets there, they go wild and start doing things like knocking things over while playing cowboys/Indians, throwing cards, and tying Arthur up to a chair in the game of cowboys and Indians. All through this, D.W. is calling and checking on them, but Arthur is really losing it! As soon as he can’t find them in hide and seek, he starts talking out loud about the swamp thing-and they come out to hear the story. They even climb up on Arthur’s lap! As soon as he is describing the Swamp thing, their grandma comes back and compliments Arthur on his good babysitting techniques. He does so good that he’s asked to watch them everyday-at his own house-so they can drive D.W. crazy!
I like Arthur books, so I thought this was cute. There wasn’t necessarily a direct lesson you can take from it, but you could get the lesson of not really listening to others and letting them scare you. It’s more of a simple, fun story just to read! You could read this in your classroom when talking about babysitting. I am not sure I would use it thematically but might read it for fun!
I like Arthur books, so I thought this was cute. There wasn’t necessarily a direct lesson you can take from it, but you could get the lesson of not really listening to others and letting them scare you. It’s more of a simple, fun story just to read! You could read this in your classroom when talking about babysitting. I am not sure I would use it thematically but might read it for fun!
February 10, 2017
love it
marc brown does not disappoint. arthur has to babysit the tibble twins and dw is full of advice. now to see if arthur can handle double trouble.
marc brown does not disappoint. arthur has to babysit the tibble twins and dw is full of advice. now to see if arthur can handle double trouble.
December 5, 2014
Arthur Babysits written by Marc Brown is about Arthur’s experience babysitting the Tribble twins. One day, Arthur and his sister were walking pat the Tribble house, when their grandma walked out and told them she was looking for a babysitter. DW volunteered Arthur to watch the twins, who were known for misbehaving, The book continues as Arthur experiences his first babysitting job and the Tribble house.
The illustrations in this book are very whimsical throughout. On the front cover for example, one of the Tribble twins is taking the s from the word babystis. The pictures add another element to the book and make reading it much more enjoyable.
Jennifer Johnson and Carly Meyers
The illustrations in this book are very whimsical throughout. On the front cover for example, one of the Tribble twins is taking the s from the word babystis. The pictures add another element to the book and make reading it much more enjoyable.
Jennifer Johnson and Carly Meyers
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March 31, 2014"Arthur Babysits" is about Arthur's worries about babysitting. The illustrations help to enhance what the text on the page tell the reader. Dark colors make up the background of the twin's home in the beginning of the story to express the dread all the adults feel for the roudy twin boys. But, bright colors surround the rest of the characters in the book. Full bleed pages are most common in the book, but a few illustrations have boarders around them and multiple pictures are shown on one page in order to show sequence.
September 18, 2008
Mommy says: OK, we didn't read the board book for Pete's sake, but that's the only choice Goodreads gave me. Anyway, Cana picked this one out because she loves Arthur books and has discovered the Arthur section of the library. I suspect we'll be reading a lot more Arthur and D.W. in the coming weeks. Anyhoo, this is a tale about Arthur babysitting two hellions and how he tricks them into behaving. Wish he could come to my house!
April 29, 2014
Judging by the cover, it looks like Arthur has to babysit some twins wearing cowboy hats and lassos. Like any kids in this first time experience, Arthur is really nervous about all of this responsibilities when taking care of someone that is not his family. It was not until he talked to his parents when he felt comfortable with the situation because this parents reassured him. I could see this as another lesson on responsibility and not freaking out over the little things.
December 26, 2015
This might be my least favorite book in the Arthur series. First of all, the family he babysits for are human...in a world full of anthropomorphic animals. Second, he gets the kids in line by scaring them which is a lazy way to get a child to behave and can lead to trust issues latter on. It's not a bad story though, so don't let me discourage you from buying it.
February 20, 2010
Another Arthur adventure classic. I especially love the theme music associated with the television series for Arthur which rings in my head as I read another Arthur selection. Great book for young beginning readers and children who love Arthur and the television series associated with it!
August 11, 2014
I'm not the Arthur fan S is but this story is a good one. He keeps hos promises, learns how to gain the respect of some youngins (the only humans I've ever seen in an Arthur book), and accepts help from his sister.
December 24, 2011
In this book Arthur is asked to babysit the Tibble twins, who are known for being terrible. When he goes to babysit them they tie him up and do other naughty things, but eventually he finds a way to tame them. This book was pretty funny.
August 16, 2013
This book has suddenly come into heavy rotation. Tommy likes that one of the lively twins shares his name. I think Danny envisions himself as a future babysitter, but he definitely enjoys the depictions of babysitting gone awry (poop and barf, among other things).
March 1, 2014
Loved these books as a child and after reading them again, I still think they're great! Children who have watched the show will find this series of books to be somewhat predictable - which is helpful for interesting and engaging newer readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews