Buster Hits the Books

Summary
For the first time in his school career, Buster has to actually read a book—and he has one week.

Plot
In the cold open, Arthur shows the viewers many different kinds of books, from fiction to non-fiction books and from picture books to chapter books. He soon runs into Buster, who asks, "Who cares about books?," making Arthur gasp in horror.

In the episode, Arthur, Buster, Brain and Fern are discussing about what books they are reading for their book reports. However, while everyone else is doing their reports, Buster just watches TV.

The next day, Arthur asks Buster what he did his book report on. Buster explains that his report was on ''Pa-Kanong: Creature with the Big Face. ''When Binky passes by and explains that he saw the movie, Arthur is shocked. Buster dismisses it, believing that all movies come from books. When he realizes that they don't, he panics.

After he is unable to find a book version of the movie, Buster briefly considers running away instead of facing Mr. Ratburn. Buster does choose to talk to Mr. Ratburn, who allows Buster to turn in his report at the end of the week so that he won't get penalized.

At lunchtime, Buster confesses that he has never actually read a book before. His friends try to get him to read a few books, such as "The Jolly Jollisters", "Sam and the Sandwich Company", and "I Don't Want To Go To Afka-Phazoom" but Buster gives up, finding each book boring.

Arthur eventually gives him two books, one about the color blue and the other book about Robin Hood. Buster starts to read the book about blue but finds it too tedious for his liking. However, he takes interest in reading Robin Hood and reads that instead.

The next day at school, he tells Arthur that he didn't finish his book report because he spent most of the night before reading Robin Hood, because he found it to be really exciting. Buster turns in his report (albeit with a cliffhanger ending), and he and Arthur read more of Robin Hood.

Major

 * Buster Baxter
 * Arthur Read
 * Nigel Ratburn
 * Fern Walters
 * The Brain
 * Francine Frensky
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * Binky Barnes

Minor

 * Jane Read (voice heard only)
 * Paige Turner
 * Sue Ellen Armstrong

Cameo

 * D.W. Read (title card)
 * James Hound
 * Jimmy the Ape
 * Jack Prelutsky
 * Bionic Puppy
 * Little Red Riding Hood
 * George Lundgren
 * Jenna Morgan
 * Prunella Deegan
 * Kenny
 * Mary
 * Kiefer
 * Alex
 * Maria Pappas
 * 4th Grade Male Rabbit
 * 3rd Grade Male Dog
 * 4th Grade Male Dog
 * 3rd Grade Male Cat
 * Jessica
 * 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
 * Beulah McInnerny
 * 3rd Grade Male Rat
 * Rattles
 * Molly MacDonald
 * 3rd Grade Female Aardvark

Mentioned

 * Bo Baxter
 * Bitzi Baxter

Trivia

 * Timeline: Buster mentions that his dad is a pilot. In the following episode, Arthur's Faraway Friend, Buster leaves for a couple of months to travel with his dad.
 * Moral: When reading books, it's best to read a short/comic book instead of a long book.
 * Irony:
 * At the end, Buster admits that he should have been choosing the books to review, rather than having Francine and Arthur choose books for him. Then he would have found something that he liked.
 * Mr. Ratburn tells Buster that taking a shortcut by watching a movie meant he did more work this week than if he had simply read a book and turned in his assignment on time.

Cultural references

 * This episode features parodies of "The Happy Hollisters," (Jolly Jollisters) "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (Sam and the Sandwich Company), and the style of stories and illustrations of Dr. Seuss (I Don't Want To Got To Afka-Phazoom).

Episode connections

 * There is apparently a Scare-Your-Pants-Off-Club TV show now. Buster mentions that instead of reading the SYPOC books, he watched the TV episodes.
 * Buster has to study in Buster Makes the Grade.

Errors

 * Possible: At the start, Mr. Ratburn can be seen writing on the blackboard with his left hand, although he is normally right-handed.

Production Notes

 * This is the first episode to use the Stampede as a title card.

Home Video
VHS: DVD:
 * Arthur's Best School Days (VHS)
 * Arthur's Best School Days (DVD)
 * Arthur's Storybook
 * Arthur: The Complete Series 3