Arthur Makes the Team

Good-natured Arthur the aardvark and his eclectic animal buddies continue their Elwood City escapades in this PBS Kids series based on the bestselling books by Marc Brown. The themes of cooperation and fair play recur in this three-episode compilation that kicks off with the titular “Arthur Makes the Team,” which finds the gang playing on a Little League baseball team coached by bully Francine's dad. When the ragtag squad suffers from constant arguing and ragging on each other's skills, Coach promotes his daughter--who torments Arthur profusely--to being assistant coach, a job she warms up to and excels at, ultimately bringing the team together through her creativity. “Meek for a Week” also features Francine, whose abrasive behavior (described as “a walking, talking poke in the eye”) plays well when she dominates at roller hockey, but not so good on the friendship front. Francine accepts priggish Muffy's challenge that she can't be amiable a whole week, and the rest of the crew, at first shocked at Francine's drastic attitude change, soon misses her prickly prowess--especially for an upcoming hockey match! Lastly is “Arthur the Loser,” a scandalous segment in which goody-goody Arthur--tired of losing all the time--cheats at a board game and still feels good about himself afterward, leading him to swindle everyone at everything (he even hides cards in his sleeves), until people start getting suspicious. Entertaining, mildly instructive, and sure to be popular, this is recommended. [Note: also newly available on DVD at the same price are Arthur Saves the Day and Arthur's Pet Follies.] Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams)