Tim Hopgood (text), David Tazzyman (illus.), The Truth According to Arthur, Allen & Unwin, July 2016, 32pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781408864999
Arthur is having a bad day. He has done the very thing his mum told him not to, and now Arthur has to find a way to explain the resulting damage. Guilt-ridden, Arthur invents stories to try to bend, stretch and hide the truth, only to learn that telling The Truth is alright after all.
Touted as “a funny book about fibbing”, The Truth According To Arthur presents the issue of lying in a humorous and easy to understand way. Readers will identify with Arthur as he grapples with feelings of guilt, while also getting a laugh out of his far-fetched stories which include a super cool princess, an alien and a giant robot. At a key moment, the book pauses and offers the reader a chance to reflect, “What will Arthur do? What would you do?”
The fun, colourful illustrations beautifully capture the emotions of Arthur and The Truth, provoking empathy for the plight of the characters.
Given that guilt and lying present a conundrum for people of all ages, it is wonderful that a childrens’ book can address the issue in such a fun, honest and engaging way. As well as being a book for younger children, The Truth According To Arthur could also be used as a teaching tool, sparking discussion in early primary school classrooms.
Recommended for children 3 years and older.
Reviewed by Bec Blakeney