Arthur Helps Out

Arthur Helps Out is an 8x8 Arthur book, written and illustrated by Marc Brown. The book is about Arthur wanting to go out to play, but first having to help his family with a day of chores at home.

Publisher's summary
''It's Saturday, and Arthur wants to play, but Mom and Dad have other ideas. Arthur has a long list of chores to do, and the sooner he finishes, the sooner he can play. When Arthur's room is clean, the trash is taken out, dishes are unloaded, the dog is washed and the boxes stored away, Mom and Dad announce that the chores are done, but Arthur is so worn out they find him asleep on the couch.''

Plot summary
It's Saturday and Arthur wants to go out and play with his friends, but D.W. tells him that Mom and Dad are looking for him. He goes to see them and he finds them holding a mop and a featherduster. They say he needs to help out around the house.

The chores start with him cleaning his room. As he does so, he gripes that he doesn't see what's wrong with it because he knows where everything is. The room, however, is strewn with clutter. Next, he carries a large basket of dirty laundry, D.W. stopping to add one of her own garments. He takes out the trash, his foot getting stuck on a piece of newspaper in the process. Pal tears it off.

Arthur next gives Pal a bath. Pal squirms and splashes, leaving Arthur to wonder which of them got wetter. He loads the dishwasher with the unwanted help of D.W., sure that he could do it faster if not for her. He carries boxes of Mom's accounting papers into the attic and picks up toys. Eventually, the others notice that they haven't seen him for a while. They find him asleep on the couch, clutching a Bionic Bunny stuffed toy, with D.W.'s stuffed Mary Moo Cow next to him.

Trivia

 * When D.W. gives Arthur one of her clothing items to put in the dirty laundry, he comments that he can't believe she wears so many different things. This is possibly a reference to the fact that both characters wear the same outfits most of the time and Arthur in particular is almost always seen wearing his typical yellow shirt and blue jeans.