Punky Brewster S04 E13 The Reading Game

Cherie s cousins Paula (Victoria Lowery) and her baby brother Bobby (Steven Hodges) arrive for a visit, and Paula, who is about the same age as Punky and Cherie and a gifted artist, wins an art contest, but asks Punky to fill out the registration form because she is illiterate. Punky is perplexed how Paula could have advanced to her grade level without her illiteracy coming to the attention of teachers, but Paula says the smart kids admired her drawings so much they did her homework in exchange for them, thinking she does not need to worry about her illiteracy. There is trouble ahead when little Bobby gets into Henry s cleaning cabinet and drinks fabric softener, and when Paula dials 911 the EMTs cannot help her, as she cannot dictate the label on the bottle. Punky and Cherie show up and are able to read the bottle, and Bobby s life is saved, teaching Paula how important it is to know how to read.