Arthur's Really Helpful Bedtime Stories

Arthur's Really Helpful Bedtime Stories
Author	Stephen Krensky, Marc Brown
Illustrator	Marc Brown
Publication date	October 6, 1998
Published by	Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN	0679884688
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Arthur's Really Helpful Bedtime Stories is a storybook collection of ten fairy tales acted out by Arthur and his friends.

Description

Arthur, D.W., and their friends bring a touch of their own personalities and senses of humor to this sprightly collection of classic bedtime stories. "Could you please be more careful--you're drooling on my cape," says D.W. to the wolf in "Little Red Riding Hood." "Lucky I'm not afraid of heights," proclaims Francine as she climbs to the top of the mattresses in "The Princess and the Pea." Master weaver Arthur has the last laugh in "The Emperor's New Clothes." Each short, fun-to-read story has just the right mixture of the familiar tales with the contemporary spin of Arthur and his friends. "The Frog Prince," "The Three Bears," "The Three Little Pigs," and others round out this big, heavily illustrated hardcover bonanza for parents. Yes, it's really helpful in getting the kids settled down and ready for bed!

Plot

Little Red Riding Hood

There once was a little girl whose favorite color was red. She liked red skirts, red shoes, and even red underwear. Most of all, she liked her red cape with a hood, which she wore every chance she got. "Aren't you tired of red yet?" her mother asked each morning. "No," said D.W., for that was the little girl's name. "Once I decide I like something, I like it forever." One day, her father, a very good cook, made some food for D.W. to take to her grandmother. "Grandma Thora always enjoys my home-baked bread," he said. "And I've made some raspberry jam, too." So D.W. set off for her grandmother's house, which was over the river and through the woods. Along the way, she met a wolf. "Good morning," said the wolf. "Hello," said D.W. The wolf licked his lips. "Where are you going on such a fine day?" he said. "To my grandmother's house," said D.W. "And could you please be more careful? You're drooling on my cape." Now, the wolf was very hungry. He wanted to eat D.W. up, cape and all, right then and there. But he decided to be a little more patient and perhaps be rewarded with two delicious meals instead of just one. "And where does your grandmother?" he asked. "In a very neat house over the river and through the woods," said D.W. "I always have to wipe my feet before I go inside." "I'll keep that in mind," said the wolf, darting off into the deep dark woods. When D.W. got to Grandma Thora's house, she saw big muddy paw prints on the doormat. "Hmmm, that's funny," she said to herself as she wiped both her feet before going inside. "Hello, Grandma Thora!" she called out. "It's me, D.W. Where are you?" In here, my dear," said a strange deep voice from the bedroom. D.W. stepped into the kitchen for a moment, then skipped into the bedroom. There she saw a figure in her grandmother's bed. The figure was wearing Grandma Thora's nightgown and cap. "I have brought you some good things to eat," said D.W. "So you have," said the figure. D.W. came closer. "Oh, Grandma Thora!" she said. "I never noticed before what big ears you have." "The better to hear you with, my dear." D.W. looked again. "Oh, Grandma Thora!" she said. "And what big eyes you have!" "The better to see you with, my dear." D.W. came right up next to the bed. "Oh, Grandma Thora!" she said. "What big teeth you have--and I'm not sure you've been brushing regularly." "The better to eat you with, my dear!" cried the wolf, throwing back the blanket. But the wolf was not used to wearing a nightgown. As he leapt out of bed, the nightgown caught on the bedpost. The wolf tripped and fell hard to the floor. CRASH! Then D.W. pulled out a big iron frying pan. She had picked it up in Grandma's kitchen and hidden it in her hood BONK! She knock the wolf out with it. "Thank you for remembering to wipe your feet," she said to the wolf, even though he couldn't hear her. "D.W., is that you?" came a muffled voice from the closet. "Yes, it is," said D.W. She unlocked the closet door and there she found her grandmother, safe and sound, and very happy to see D.W. "Oh, my!" said Grandma Thora, looking around. "I see you've been busy. Thank goodness the wolf didn't have time to eat me before you arrived. Why don't we go fetch the hunter who lives next door? He'll take care of the wolf for us." Once the hunter had come and gone, D.W. and her grandmother sat down for lunch. "You look really good in red," said Grandma Thora. "Thank you," said D.W. "My red riding hood came in very handy today." And she wore her red riding hood for many days after that.

Characters

Little Red Riding Hood

• D.W. Read (Little Red Riding Hood)
• Jane Read
• Grandma Thora
• Wolf

Buster and the Beanstalk

• Buster Baxter (Jack)
• Bitzi Baxter (Jack's mother)
• The old man
• The giant

The Emperor's New Clothes

D.W. and the Three Bears

• D.W. Read
• Mama Bear
• Papa Bear
• Baby Bear

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Princess and the Pea

The Three Little Pigs

The Frog Prince

The Lion and the Mouse

• Binky Barnes (Lion)
• Mouse

Puss in Boots