Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 5, audio

Read by Mark Linn-Baker
Approx. 2 hours
2 cassettes

Continuing the tradition of Arthur Chapter Books on audio, this fifth volume is sure to be a hit among Arthur fans.

Arthur and his third-grade class compete at the Middle Ages fair in King Arthur. In Francine, Believe it or Not, Francine attempts to keep her cool in order to win a coveted watch. And Arthur and his friends have fun with a mysterious fortune-telling cootie-catcher in Arhtur and the Cootie-Catcher.

Gr 1-3-Fans of Marc Brown's Arthur will enjoy the adventures of Arthur and the gang in these three books. In King Arthur, Arthur and his third-grade classmates compete against Glenbrook Academy during the Middle Ages Fair. Despite their attempts to win the pie-eating contest and other events, the gang is not having any success. Their only chance rests with Arthur when he tackles the task of removing a sword from a stone, a feat which would make them automatic winners. In Francine, Believe It or Not, Francine makes a secret bet with Muffy. After Francine's selfish play during a hockey game, Muffy bets her Princess Peach watch that Francine can't be nice for an entire week. A disaster with the watch changes Francine's attitude, and her old self re-emerges to the delight of her friends. In Arthur and the Cootie Catcher, a series of correct predictions by Prunella's cootie catcher convinces the gang that it can foretell the future and place a curse on any nonbelievers. After badgering Prunella for predictions and even performing a rescue mission when the catcher is accidentally washed, Arthur and his friends realize the cootie catcher is no longer any fun when it forbids them one of their favorite activities. Narrated by actor Mark Linn-Baker (Perfect Strangers), his solid pacing and ability to handle the various voices will keep listeners engaged. Background music is used to signal the end of each side, thus preparing children for the upcoming switch in cassettes. This audiobook can be used as a stand-alone purchase or as a continuation for those libraries that own the previous four volumes.

Paula L. Setser, Deep Springs Elementary School, Lexington, KY

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