Editing Volunteer of the Year

{{Book
| image   = Volunteer of the Year Cover.jpg
| author   = *[[Marc Brown]] (cover credit)
*[[K. Emily Hutta]]
| illustrator = *[[Marc Brown]] (cover credit)
*[[Judy Nelson]]
| date      = 2001
| publisher = [[Advance Publishers, L.C.]]
| isbn  = 1579731139
| previous = ''[[Sir Arthur to the Rescue]]''
| next = ''[[Buried Treasure]]''}}

'''''Volunteer of the Year''''' is the seventh book in ''[[Arthur's Family Values]]'', a series of ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'' book titles aimed specifically at teaching morals. The moral of the book is "Generosity." The book was written by [[K. Emily Hutta]] and illustrated by [[Judy Nelson]].

==Publisher's summary==
[[Muffy Crosswire|Muffy]] gets a lesson in generosity when she and [[Arthur Read|Arthur]] compete for the "Volunteer of the Year" award!

==Synopsis==
When volunteers are needed at the [[Senior Center]], Arthur and Muffy both help out, but in very different ways. Muffy is determined to win the Senior Center's Junior Volunteer of the Year Award, but goes about it by making calls for orders and doing more to take care of herself. Arthur, meanwhile, plants a garden, hangs banners, shovels snow and spends time listening to seniors' stories, never really thinking about winning an award. But when the time comes to give out the Junior Volunteer of the Year Award, the result is unsurprising.

==Plot summary==
[[Francine Frensky|Francine]] is hanging out snacking with [[Prunella Deegan|Prunella]] and Muffy when she sees Arthur and waves him over, asking if he's heard about Muffy's award. He hasn't and Francine explains that it's actually something Muffy is hoping to win - the Senior Center's Junior Volunteer of the Year Award, which according to a flyer is "for the young person who best demonstrates the spirit of giving." Muffy is sure that she's going to win and to prove it stops at a nursery on her way [[Muffy's House|home]] and places an order for some plants, asking them to deliver them to the Senior Center with a note from her. Later that same day, Arthur visits the Senior Center and helps plant a garden with the plants Muffy had delivered, with the help of a senior named [[Mrs. Runyon]].

Three months later, a Fourth of July picnic is held for the seniors. Muffy brings a box of picnic things, dumps with Arthur, and says to make sure that everyone knows she brought them. Meanwhile, Arthur helps a man named [[Mr. Evans]] decorate, shares some lemonade with him, and listens to his story of how he got his medals. At a Senior Center Crafts Fair, Arthur helps set up booths, while Muffy comes by and buys up five of everything being sold. Arthur comments that she bought a lot of stuff, but a woman named [[Miss Stine]] notes that money doesn't buy everything, such a scarf that she made for him.

In the winter, a big snowstorm hits [[Elwood City]]. Arthur enjoys a morning of sledding and snowball fights, but in the afternoon he calls Muffy, asking if she wants to go over to the Senior Center. She's not about to go out in the freezing cold, but Arthur visits the Senior Center, shovels snow from the path, then plays Go Fish with the seniors, and enjoys pastries from [[Eliza's Bakery]] sent courtesy of Muffy.

[[File:Volunteer of the Year - Muffy's Bubble Bath.jpg|thumb|200px|Muffy having a bubble bath]]
A few weeks later, it comes time for the day of the award ceremony. Arthur encounters Muffy at the [[Dee's Florist|florist shop]], where she has ordered ten dozen roses for the Senior Center so they won't forget about her contribution. She says that she wants to look just right, and Arthur says he'll see her there, as he's helping his [[David Read|dad]] with the buffet. While Muffy gets her hair done, Arthur listens to [[Mr. Ronzini]] telling a fish tale. While Muffy takes a bubble bath, he plays checkers with Mrs. Runyon. While Muffy chooses nail polish, Arthur helps Mr. Evans put on his best jacket. 

Muffy arrives at the Senior Center, shouting that the ceremony can start now that she's there. The announcer thanks everyone for their support, and then says that the Junior Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Arthur. Muffy is shocked, wondering just what it was that Arthur gave. "His time, his friendship and hard work," replies Francine. The seniors all cheer for Arthur and [[Bitzi Baxter]] takes his picture, asking him to give a big smile.

==Characters==
*[[Prunella Deegan|Prunella]]
*[[Arthur Read|Arthur]]
*[[Francine Frensky|Francine]]
*[[Muffy Crosswire|Muffy]]
*[[Bailey]]
*"[[Nursery Worker]]"
*[[David Read|Arthur's Dad]]
*[[Mrs. Runyon]]
*[[Miss Stine]]
*"[[Unknown Male Adult Aardvark (Number 3)]]"
*[[Mr. Evans]]
*[[D.W. Read|D.W.]]
*[[Kate Read|Baby Kate]]
*"[[Eliza's Bakery]] Worker"
*"[[Dee's Florist Worker]]"
*[[Mr. Ronzini]]
*[[Jane Read|Arthur's Mom]]
*[[Bitzi Baxter]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
VolunteeroftheYear - Bailey.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Nursery Worker.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Miss Stine getting a burger.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Clothespin reindeer.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Mr. Evans in uniform.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Mr. Ronzini.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Mrs. Runyon in polka-dot sweater.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Unknown male aardvark.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Go Fish.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Eliza's Bakery.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Dee's Florist.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - Dee's Florist Worker.jpg
VolunteeroftheYear - The award ceremony.jpg
</gallery>

==External links==
*''[https://openlibrary.org/books/OL22859773M/Volunteer_of_the_year Volunteer of the Year]'' on OpenLibrary (read free with registration)

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