Arthur and the Mystery of the Egg

A pleasing pair of stories for younger readers, these are ideal for those developing confidence and independence in their reading. Arthur is a happy character who experiences gentle, everyday adventures rooted in the world around him. In Arthur and the Mystery of the Egg, Arthur finds a white egg that has unexpectedly appeared in the garden. This is greeted with near hysteria and then great seriousness by the rest of the family, although it is not always clear why. The egg is investigated and then monitored as it approaches hatching point, with TV crews coming to film as everyone thinks the big question of ‘which came first’ is about to be answered. The story ends with a little disappointment for the characters involved, but we can be sure that Arthur will bounce back for another story-there are four more planned for publication in 2013.

In Arthur and the Earthworms, our young protagonist decides, with help from his grandfather, to start selling worms. When one customer places a huge order, the pressure is on to meet the deadline and supply the 450 worms required. With Arthur and his team working through the night it looks like success, until another disappointment strikes for Arthur and his pet duck gets a very large treat.

These are two enjoyable stories, which have been proficiently translated and illustrated on most pages with amusing black and white illustrations.