Arthur Meets the President

This lively story--Brown's 15th about goggle-eyed Arthur--features the popular aardvark winning a ``How I Can Help Make America Great'' contest. Arthur and his classmates are excited about attending the special ceremony at the White House, but when Arthur learns he has to recite his winning essay on TV ``while all America looks on,'' he is terrified. In the end, when Arthur's notes are blown away by the helicopter's wind, it is his irrepressible sister D.W. who saves the day and underscores Brown's message that ``we can all help to make America great by helping others.'' Brown's attention to visual details provides much of the book's humor, and Arthur fans will delight in deciphering D.W.'s list of ideas about how to run the country. Although the appearance of too many characters makes the text seem needlessly disjointed, Brown's sensitivity to Arthur's frets is right on target. Ages 4-8. (May)