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Arthur Adventure Series
Arthur Goes to Camp
With a cabin full of frogs, Arthur can't wait to leave summer camp. He runs away during the big scavenger hunt. But his friend's need Arthur's help to win against a rival camp. Where did Arthur go?
32 pages, Library Binding
First published April 30, 1982
About the author
Marc Brown
576 books391 followersMarc Tolon Brown is perhaps best known for his series of children's books about Arthur the aardvark, which was turned into an animated television show on PBS. Brown is a three-time Emmy Award winner, for his role on the television show inspired by his books.
He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.
He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
January 8, 2023
Arthur Goes to Camp was one of the first Arthur Adventure books, as can be seen from the rudimentary character design. These early entries in the series were some of the finest Marc Brown ever wrote, and many became classic episodes of the PBS Arthur television program; "Arthur Goes to Camp" first aired October 15, 1996. As summer arrives, Arthur isn't enthusiastic about going to Camp Meadowcroak, but his parents insist. It immediately becomes apparent that camp is going to be all about the boys versus the girls: Arthur, Buster, and the Brain competing in everything against Muffy and Francine. Unfortunately, the girls get a fun counselor named Becky, and the boys are stuck with Rocky, who acts like a drillmaster. Miserable, the boys come up short again and again versus the girls, prompting Arthur to pen a torrent of letters begging his parents to come take him home.
When a prank war between the boys and girls escalates, both sides realize a third party is secretly at work: the bigger kids at neighboring Camp Horsewater, who get their kicks by pitting the younger campers against each other. The only opportunity to even the score will be to beat them at the scavenger hunt, but what hope do the Meadowcroak runts have of besting the Horsewater gang? Arthur is ready to pack his bags and head home on foot, but his friends aren't ready to admit defeat. With the Brain on their side, outsmarting the Horsewater kids is possible. Could this summer at camp turn out to be one Arthur treasures forever?
Small differences abound between this book and the television episode based on it, but both are Marc Brown classics. Even as kids, it's easy to get caught up in tribalism, feuding over small things you're convinced are huge. But often it's an outside agent pitting you against each other, taking advantage of your discord for their own benefit. Only when you unite against the common foe do you have a chance of beating them, as the boys and girls discover in these pages. Arthur Goes to Camp may be most notable as the first appearance by the Brain, but it's a fun, goodhearted story in its own right, a must-read for anyone who loves the Arthur Adventure books or the television show.
When a prank war between the boys and girls escalates, both sides realize a third party is secretly at work: the bigger kids at neighboring Camp Horsewater, who get their kicks by pitting the younger campers against each other. The only opportunity to even the score will be to beat them at the scavenger hunt, but what hope do the Meadowcroak runts have of besting the Horsewater gang? Arthur is ready to pack his bags and head home on foot, but his friends aren't ready to admit defeat. With the Brain on their side, outsmarting the Horsewater kids is possible. Could this summer at camp turn out to be one Arthur treasures forever?
Small differences abound between this book and the television episode based on it, but both are Marc Brown classics. Even as kids, it's easy to get caught up in tribalism, feuding over small things you're convinced are huge. But often it's an outside agent pitting you against each other, taking advantage of your discord for their own benefit. Only when you unite against the common foe do you have a chance of beating them, as the boys and girls discover in these pages. Arthur Goes to Camp may be most notable as the first appearance by the Brain, but it's a fun, goodhearted story in its own right, a must-read for anyone who loves the Arthur Adventure books or the television show.
July 28, 2019
I can't understand how/why this series has such cute, updated covers and then you open it up to that dismal, old illustration style with faded colors and ugly characters. Why can't they extend the same cover illustrations into the whole book?
It was funny how they passed another camp with all these body builder kids and Arthur said it wasn'ta camp; it's a zoo.
The writing could have been more stimulating and interesting. They had dinner that tasted like macaroni and fleas and wormburgers. What do fleas taste like and what are wormburgers? Also, the rival camp was called Horsewater and their camp was Meadowcroak. What is up with those names?
The girls had a nice, encouraging coach, while the boys had a drill sergeant who criticized their shapes and eating habits.
It was cute when after Arthur discovered frogs in their beds, Brain said they're amphibians and Buster corrected him by saying no, they're frogs.
The whole time Arthur had been sending letters home about how much he missed his parents and telling them to come get him. It was so sad when he wrote that he cried when he read their letter. Poor Arthur!
Things started escalating between the boys and girls. The girls thought the boys put a smoke bomb in their tent, and the boys thought the girls stole their clothes. The boys looked funny clutching towels and Arthur holding a leafy limb to their midsections while their clothes were hanging from the flag pole. All 3 girls and 3 boys had their heads peeking out from under their tent flaps and they looked so comical. That might they all heard footsteps so they knew it was to each other.
All the kids were scared and couldn't enjoy themselves and Buster and Brain decided to hide out the next night to see what was going on. They saw the Horsewater camp out there howling and using a tool to make footprints in the ground. They made plans to pay them back at the scavenger hunt. And it was funny that Arthur's plan was to run away and he told his parents he wasn't going to wait for them; he thought he remembered the way home.
Brain's plan was to dress in Muffy's fur coat while they all yelled out bear. It worked like a charm. All the big kids were scared, started climbing up into the trees. All you could see of one kid were legs protruding from the leaves.
They looks for objects, which included a balloon, sunglasses, sneaker, banana, alarm clock, and flashlights. Very strange items to find in the middle to the woods. It should have been things found in nature.
They all wondered where Arthur was and still needed to find a flashlight to win the hunt. Meanwhile Arthur was lost and clicked on his flashlight to see. That's when they found him at the same time and had the last item needed. They cheered him on about it that he saved the day. I thought it was a really cool, creative touch that he showed up with the missing item and saved the day, finally had a good experience at camp and was useful to his team. It was just what he needed to enjoy camp. But a part of me felt that since he didn't participate in the rest of the hunt for all the other items that he didn't deserve to get the credit for winning, especially since he spent the whole time trying to leave them all in the lurch and hightailed it out of there at the first sign of trouble. It would have been better had he decided to stay and help his friends because he wanted to, not because he accidentally did.
The last letter was him saying the scavenger hunt and camp was great and he wanted to come back next year. It was cute the turnaround he had.
It wasn't what I expected and the cover is misleading not just because that's not the illustration showed in the book, but because Arthur is depicted going through the woods with a flashlight like he's participating in camp activities, when the only time he did that is when he was leaving at the end. His letters were complete with spelling mistakes, and that was charming. They were the funniest things about the book. I wish there had been more activities and that he could have had fun instead of been trying to leave the whole time.
It was funny how they passed another camp with all these body builder kids and Arthur said it wasn'ta camp; it's a zoo.
The writing could have been more stimulating and interesting. They had dinner that tasted like macaroni and fleas and wormburgers. What do fleas taste like and what are wormburgers? Also, the rival camp was called Horsewater and their camp was Meadowcroak. What is up with those names?
The girls had a nice, encouraging coach, while the boys had a drill sergeant who criticized their shapes and eating habits.
It was cute when after Arthur discovered frogs in their beds, Brain said they're amphibians and Buster corrected him by saying no, they're frogs.
The whole time Arthur had been sending letters home about how much he missed his parents and telling them to come get him. It was so sad when he wrote that he cried when he read their letter. Poor Arthur!
Things started escalating between the boys and girls. The girls thought the boys put a smoke bomb in their tent, and the boys thought the girls stole their clothes. The boys looked funny clutching towels and Arthur holding a leafy limb to their midsections while their clothes were hanging from the flag pole. All 3 girls and 3 boys had their heads peeking out from under their tent flaps and they looked so comical. That might they all heard footsteps so they knew it was to each other.
All the kids were scared and couldn't enjoy themselves and Buster and Brain decided to hide out the next night to see what was going on. They saw the Horsewater camp out there howling and using a tool to make footprints in the ground. They made plans to pay them back at the scavenger hunt. And it was funny that Arthur's plan was to run away and he told his parents he wasn't going to wait for them; he thought he remembered the way home.
Brain's plan was to dress in Muffy's fur coat while they all yelled out bear. It worked like a charm. All the big kids were scared, started climbing up into the trees. All you could see of one kid were legs protruding from the leaves.
They looks for objects, which included a balloon, sunglasses, sneaker, banana, alarm clock, and flashlights. Very strange items to find in the middle to the woods. It should have been things found in nature.
They all wondered where Arthur was and still needed to find a flashlight to win the hunt. Meanwhile Arthur was lost and clicked on his flashlight to see. That's when they found him at the same time and had the last item needed. They cheered him on about it that he saved the day. I thought it was a really cool, creative touch that he showed up with the missing item and saved the day, finally had a good experience at camp and was useful to his team. It was just what he needed to enjoy camp. But a part of me felt that since he didn't participate in the rest of the hunt for all the other items that he didn't deserve to get the credit for winning, especially since he spent the whole time trying to leave them all in the lurch and hightailed it out of there at the first sign of trouble. It would have been better had he decided to stay and help his friends because he wanted to, not because he accidentally did.
The last letter was him saying the scavenger hunt and camp was great and he wanted to come back next year. It was cute the turnaround he had.
It wasn't what I expected and the cover is misleading not just because that's not the illustration showed in the book, but because Arthur is depicted going through the woods with a flashlight like he's participating in camp activities, when the only time he did that is when he was leaving at the end. His letters were complete with spelling mistakes, and that was charming. They were the funniest things about the book. I wish there had been more activities and that he could have had fun instead of been trying to leave the whole time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 11, 2011This is good book to read to kids who may have truble leaving home for either sleepovers or camps, it helps them relate to the fear of leaving home while at the smae time showing them it's rewarding to face your fears, becuase aruthur has so much fun once he does go to camp. Could also prompt a scavenger hunt lesson for the class, b/c they do one in the story.
January 9, 2025
Not a book for pumping up a kid for summer camp. If anything spooked my kid about summer camp. Arthur is miserable, having a terrible time, writing sad letters to his parents and runs away from camp. Ends “happy” but with no resolution other than he helps his team win by accident and he wants to come back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
This was just ok. I thought it would be a lot better.
Arthur doesn't wanna go to Camp Meadowcroak, which is the same camp in another book in this series, where Arthur wishes he was with Buster there. So this must take place before that.
The pictures gave away things before the text did, like the frogs in the bed, and the Horsewater camp kids being the ones to scare and prank them.
It's funny one of the illustrations showed a girl from Camp Horsewater(very strange camp names in here) going around with a foot attacked to a stick and making footprints in the grass, which reminded me of Bookishly Ever After when they did the same thing so the kids would believe in the camp legend of a monster. That must be camp tradition everywhere or something.
I didn't go to camp, so I don't know, but it seems weird for the scavenger list to include items you wouldn't find outside, like a balloon, sunglasses, sneaker, banana, alarm clock and flashlight.
I didn’t like that the kids planned a way to get back at the other camp and Arthur wasn’t a part of it, because he was sneaking away back home.
I did think it was funny how the boys and girls came together to prank the other camp. The Brain puts Muffy's fur coat on, and pretends to be a bear. The kids shout "a bear!" and try not to laugh, and the other camp kids climb into the trees. While they're up in the trees, it gave them a chance to look for items on the list.
It ended sort of bizarre. Arthur crept away, trying to run back home. Then it's dark and all of a sudden his friends find him with his flashlight and they’re declared the winners. How, if he was trying to leave camp, would he end up in the very bushes where they were having the scavenger hunt? And hours later, when it's now dark out, and it was full daylight earlier. He would have been a long way from camp by then. There's no way the counselors would have let the scavenger hunt last that long, and as if the kids would still have been in the trees that long.
Also, it was very convenient Arthur happened to be carrying the last item on the scavenger list.
Arthur, who’s hated everything about camp, suddenly loves it just because they won the game, and wants to go back next year. That turnaround was way too sudden.
It felt like a lot of different things were happening; the girls are better than the boys at everything, then there's camp rivals that are pranking them, then there's the scavenger hunt. It went in random directions to me. Definitely not as cute as I thought it would be.
Arthur doesn't wanna go to Camp Meadowcroak, which is the same camp in another book in this series, where Arthur wishes he was with Buster there. So this must take place before that.
The pictures gave away things before the text did, like the frogs in the bed, and the Horsewater camp kids being the ones to scare and prank them.
It's funny one of the illustrations showed a girl from Camp Horsewater(very strange camp names in here) going around with a foot attacked to a stick and making footprints in the grass, which reminded me of Bookishly Ever After when they did the same thing so the kids would believe in the camp legend of a monster. That must be camp tradition everywhere or something.
I didn't go to camp, so I don't know, but it seems weird for the scavenger list to include items you wouldn't find outside, like a balloon, sunglasses, sneaker, banana, alarm clock and flashlight.
I didn’t like that the kids planned a way to get back at the other camp and Arthur wasn’t a part of it, because he was sneaking away back home.
I did think it was funny how the boys and girls came together to prank the other camp. The Brain puts Muffy's fur coat on, and pretends to be a bear. The kids shout "a bear!" and try not to laugh, and the other camp kids climb into the trees. While they're up in the trees, it gave them a chance to look for items on the list.
It ended sort of bizarre. Arthur crept away, trying to run back home. Then it's dark and all of a sudden his friends find him with his flashlight and they’re declared the winners. How, if he was trying to leave camp, would he end up in the very bushes where they were having the scavenger hunt? And hours later, when it's now dark out, and it was full daylight earlier. He would have been a long way from camp by then. There's no way the counselors would have let the scavenger hunt last that long, and as if the kids would still have been in the trees that long.
Also, it was very convenient Arthur happened to be carrying the last item on the scavenger list.
Arthur, who’s hated everything about camp, suddenly loves it just because they won the game, and wants to go back next year. That turnaround was way too sudden.
It felt like a lot of different things were happening; the girls are better than the boys at everything, then there's camp rivals that are pranking them, then there's the scavenger hunt. It went in random directions to me. Definitely not as cute as I thought it would be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2015
Dated
Overall I really enjoy Arthur but this particular one came across as really outdated given the "boys against the girls" mentality plus the reference to a mink coat which I doubt anyone under 20 would understand.
Overall I really enjoy Arthur but this particular one came across as really outdated given the "boys against the girls" mentality plus the reference to a mink coat which I doubt anyone under 20 would understand.
June 22, 2018
The rare Arthur book that we didn’t love. Arthur spends the whole book upset and in a flash, everything is wonderful and it doesn’t come off as very authentic.
May 19, 2026
I love Arthur so muchh. This is my favorite stories.
Reread. Every once in a while I like to re read the kid books I grew up on.
Reread. Every once in a while I like to re read the kid books I grew up on.
January 8, 2023
Arthur Goes to Camp was one of the first Arthur Adventure books, as can be seen from the rudimentary character design. These early entries in the series were some of the finest Marc Brown ever wrote, and many became classic episodes of the PBS Arthur television program; "Arthur Goes to Camp" first aired October 15, 1996. As summer arrives, Arthur isn't enthusiastic about going to Camp Meadowcroak, but his parents insist. It immediately becomes apparent that camp is going to be all about the boys versus the girls: Arthur, Buster, and the Brain competing in everything against Muffy and Francine. Unfortunately, the girls get a fun counselor named Becky, and the boys are stuck with Rocky, who acts like a drillmaster. Miserable, the boys come up short again and again versus the girls, prompting Arthur to pen a torrent of letters begging his parents to come take him home.
When a prank war between the boys and girls escalates, both sides realize a third party is secretly at work: the bigger kids at neighboring Camp Horsewater, who get their kicks by pitting the younger campers against each other. The only opportunity to even the score will be to beat them at the scavenger hunt, but what hope do the Meadowcroak runts have of besting the Horsewater gang? Arthur is ready to pack his bags and head home on foot, but his friends aren't ready to admit defeat. With the Brain on their side, outsmarting the Horsewater kids is possible. Could this summer at camp turn out to be one Arthur treasures forever?
Small differences abound between this book and the television episode based on it, but both are Marc Brown classics. Even as kids, it's easy to get caught up in tribalism, feuding over small things you're convinced are huge. But often it's an outside agent pitting you against each other, taking advantage of your discord for their own benefit. Only when you unite against the common foe do you have a chance of beating them, as the boys and girls discover in these pages. Arthur Goes to Camp may be most notable as the first appearance by the Brain, but it's a fun, goodhearted story in its own right, a must-read for anyone who loves the Arthur Adventure books or the television show.
When a prank war between the boys and girls escalates, both sides realize a third party is secretly at work: the bigger kids at neighboring Camp Horsewater, who get their kicks by pitting the younger campers against each other. The only opportunity to even the score will be to beat them at the scavenger hunt, but what hope do the Meadowcroak runts have of besting the Horsewater gang? Arthur is ready to pack his bags and head home on foot, but his friends aren't ready to admit defeat. With the Brain on their side, outsmarting the Horsewater kids is possible. Could this summer at camp turn out to be one Arthur treasures forever?
Small differences abound between this book and the television episode based on it, but both are Marc Brown classics. Even as kids, it's easy to get caught up in tribalism, feuding over small things you're convinced are huge. But often it's an outside agent pitting you against each other, taking advantage of your discord for their own benefit. Only when you unite against the common foe do you have a chance of beating them, as the boys and girls discover in these pages. Arthur Goes to Camp may be most notable as the first appearance by the Brain, but it's a fun, goodhearted story in its own right, a must-read for anyone who loves the Arthur Adventure books or the television show.
December 29, 2022
What's fascinating about the Arthur series is seeing how the characters progressed, from the first book, written in the 1970s, to the current-day drawings. Arthur really looked like an aardvark back in the day. The rest of the characters are really interesting, so different to look at that you think you're reading something totally not Arthur in many ways. In Arthur Goes to Camp (1982) Arthur is--well--sent to the camp. He doesn't want to go and hates it when he gets there. It's boys vs. girls, but when a neighboring camp is filled with muscular rough bullies in a scavenger hunt competition, it'll take boys and girls from the camp to come together and defeat the older camp kids. And where's Arthur? He's run away from camp, hoping to find his way back home... Idiot! My rating - 3/5
June 20, 2019
Arthur's off to Camp Meadowcroak and he's not happy about it. He's homesick before he even arrives. Once he does, the food, the poison ivy, the ambitious girls, and the upcoming scavenger hunt with, Camp Horsewater, are too much for him to handle. So Arthur runs away. His desperate actions lead to a surprise ending that will inspire young readers to stay the course with a situation they find difficult.
For many children summer camp and all the uneasiness that goes along with it is a rite of passage. A shared reading of this book is an excellent way to start a conversation about your child's apprehension with sleeping away at camp.
For many children summer camp and all the uneasiness that goes along with it is a rite of passage. A shared reading of this book is an excellent way to start a conversation about your child's apprehension with sleeping away at camp.
October 19, 2024
Fun, mystery, graphic “novel”/children's picture book.
Arthur is not excited to go to camp this year, he realizes the girls are being treated better than the boys and all of the campers find out that someone has been messing with them so they seek to find out who it is and in turn, decide to play a trick on the tricksters. Arthur ends up loving his adventure at camp and can't wait for next year.
Arthur is not excited to go to camp this year, he realizes the girls are being treated better than the boys and all of the campers find out that someone has been messing with them so they seek to find out who it is and in turn, decide to play a trick on the tricksters. Arthur ends up loving his adventure at camp and can't wait for next year.
November 6, 2018
Great book!
It took some time for Arthur to get use to being away from home and at camp. He had to participate in everything because that is how you will know if you like it don't like something by trying it out. He learned that camp is fun! He had a lot of fun! I had a lot fun reading Arthur's books!
It took some time for Arthur to get use to being away from home and at camp. He had to participate in everything because that is how you will know if you like it don't like something by trying it out. He learned that camp is fun! He had a lot of fun! I had a lot fun reading Arthur's books!
September 26, 2018
Arthur is not looking forward to Camp Meadowcroak, and when mysterious things start happening there, he decides to run away. This story had awesome character development! A fun read for first/second graders.
November 26, 2018
Read this because it was free on Kindle Unlimited and I was bored. It's a fun little story about Arthur dreading to go to camp, and when he does, shenanigans ensue. Arthur tries to run away. I think it's a fun read for kids but maybe not something they should read right before going to camp haha.
May 27, 2019
this was a good book for kids 4-9
I liked this book I'm lucky that this was kindle membership card that I have i abvsoulutly loved this book i am 8 years old also i love all you're books Marc Brown and also the normal show arthur
I liked this book I'm lucky that this was kindle membership card that I have i abvsoulutly loved this book i am 8 years old also i love all you're books Marc Brown and also the normal show arthur
February 18, 2020
i grew up watching Arthur and all his friends on the tv ...such a great read ... love these characters. so fun. not sure which character i enjoy more??! great illustrations. i love camping. must read.
July 15, 2018
A fun read together with my son.
August 23, 2018
Fun Read
Love the Arthur gang & now so does my son. Like the relatability of the story line & the team work involved.
Love the Arthur gang & now so does my son. Like the relatability of the story line & the team work involved.
October 11, 2018
999999999
888888888888999999999999999multi-million multimillion look on ill pool lol ok o.o I'm on look on on look 'll I'm lol ill l
888888888888999999999999999multi-million multimillion look on ill pool lol ok o.o I'm on look on on look 'll I'm lol ill l
November 1, 2018
Good book for second graders.
My grandson liked that the campers had a plan to scare the other camp. He enjoyed reading this book. He is 7 years old.
My grandson liked that the campers had a plan to scare the other camp. He enjoyed reading this book. He is 7 years old.
August 21, 2019
Love Arthur
Such fun and wonderful books! I loved reading these to my babies when they were little. They’re wholesome and still entertaining.
Such fun and wonderful books! I loved reading these to my babies when they were little. They’re wholesome and still entertaining.
August 12, 2020
Alissa enjoyed the TV show better.
December 11, 2020
dated, not pc, lacking
February 1, 2022
Starts off strong but has a bad ending.
April 25, 2022
Good message on trying new things but I just wasn't a fan of this one.
November 5, 2022
phenomenal
August 31, 2023
This is just a simple book about Arthur going to camp summer camp and then his friends needed his help to go up against rivals at camp.
March 3, 2024
The copy I borrowed from the library had the oldest style of Arthur illustrations, but I still warmly remember a lot of this book and it was a very nostalgic read 💕
April 30, 2024
Poor Arthur, it's going to be horrible!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews