While the original 1981 book this was adapted from takes place in the third grade where Arthur and his friends move to and become Mr. Ratburn's students, this one is set in Mr. Marco's second grade class. While this episode is intended to be Muffy's backstory in moving to Elwood City, the book it's adapted from is Muffy's first appearance in the franchise in general.
"Arthur the Wrecker" would later be adapted into an Arthur Adventure book being published in the next year in 1997. The plot remains almost the same as this episode it's adapted from, but with a few differences: the Brain's mother informs Arthur and Buster when he's not home instead of her husband informing the two boys, the computer repair shop that the boys visit that was not present in this episode, and when Arthur's mom calls him to check how he's doing which he lies to her about the situation which did not happen in this episode where he received no call from his mom.
This is the second time Arthur's Bionic Bunny underwear is seen, but during the intro to "Arthur and the True Francine" where Francine sneaks into Arthur's bedroom and is told by Muffy's orders via Truth or Dare to steal socks from his drawers.