Some of the bad things that happen to people in the story are linked to bad choices they made. Similarly, a Minimoy king reunited with his children calls them his “most prized possessions.”

When he suggests that a group of physically intimidating African warriors take his place in fighting off a looming evil, their leader tells him, “Your heart is the strongest of weapons.” Arthur also makes a promise to find an old man’s captured son, and he does all he can to see that promise through.Įxplaining why Arthur’s parents have left him with his grandma, the narrator tells us, “Times were tough, and his mother and father were doing the best they could to take care of him.” Later, however, they vow to never let money problems keep their family apart again. Taking nothing more than his desire and pure heart, Arthur sets out to save both the house and-as we soon find out-these tiny creatures, too.Īrthur never gives up hope that things will turn out for the best, and he advises others along the way to adopt the same attitude. His grandfather told stories of a kingdom of Minimoys who stand only about as tall as a tooth, and who hold his stash of rubies somewhere in their underground world. But to track it down, he has to have faith in what seems ridiculous to everyone else. Grandpa buried a treasure somewhere on the grounds, and the youngster is determined to find it and save the day. The ever-clever, always-optimistic Arthur has a plan, though. He’s already got all the paperwork done, and unless Grandpa can suddenly reappear, sign the papers and come up with payment within 48 hours, it seems a sure bet she and Arthur will be evicted.

Then a heartless real estate developer swoops in and informs Granny that he plans to demolish her house and turn it into an apartment complex. (The story’s set in what looks to be the early 1960s.) But ever since the legendary old man disappeared while on one of his journeys, the boy and his grandma can only reminisce about him at their Connecticut house in the country-while Arthur’s parents search for jobs in the city. Ten-year-old Arthur would love to follow in the footsteps of his treasure-hunting, Africa-exploring grandpa.

Arthur and the invisibles streaming