Arthur Read
Encyclopedia
Arthur Timothy Read is the title character of both the book series and the PBS
children's television show Arthur
which was created by Marc Brown
. On the show, he is eight years old, in Mr. Ratburn's third grade class, and lives in Elwood City. Arthur was ranked #26 on TV Guide
's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time.
aardvark
, and the star of the self-titled TV series and books. Though he is proclaimed to be an aardvark, many of his features sit in stark contrast with this. For example his small, rounded ears, large, bulbous snout and his lack of the large, conspicuous tail which aardvarks typically possess. His trademarks include his bright yellow sweater, blue jeans, big round glasses, and red-and-white sneakers that he wears in most appearances. According to creator Marc Brown, he is supposed to be a representation of the average American third-grader and is based on the author's own experiences growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania
as a child.
In the first Arthur book, Arthur's Nose (1976), Arthur had a long nose; he therefore resembled an actual aardvark. However, his design changed over the first half dozen books; he now has a much shorter nose, and many more human features. In the second book of the series, 1979's Arthur's Eyes (in which Arthur still very strongly resembled a real aardvark), he acquired his trademark glasses.
Arthur's parents include his mother Jane Read, who is a work-at-home accountant
and his father David L. Read, who runs a catering business. His mother is from the Pittsburgh area, and knew Fred Rogers as a child. He also has a baby sister named Kate and a pet dog named Pal.
Appearances from Arthur's extended family include Grandma Thora, Grandpa Dave, Uncle Fred, Uncle Richard (Dave's brother), Aunt Jessica, Aunt Loretta, Aunt Lucy, Great-Grandma (Thora's mother) and his cousins Cora, Monique, Ricky, and other unnamed relatives. However, the only two members of Arthur's extended family who have appeared more than once as of today are Grandma Thora and Grandpa Dave. Most of the Read family members are Ohio natives as well.
Grandma Thora lives in a house not too far from Arthur's in Elwood City and is known to be a bad cook, but a loving grandmother and a world-class marbles player. She loves to play Bingo every Friday night, and in some episodes has to watch over Arthur and D.W. Grandpa Dave lives on a farm that he claims has been in the family for 150 years.
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
children's television show Arthur
Arthur (TV series)
Arthur is an American/Canadian animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for the Public Broadcasting Service...
which was created by Marc Brown
Marc Brown (author)
Marc Tolon Brown is an American writer of children's books. He writes as well as illustrates his Arthur books, and is best known for that series and its spin-offs. He currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts. The names of his two sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, have been hidden in all of the...
. On the show, he is eight years old, in Mr. Ratburn's third grade class, and lives in Elwood City. Arthur was ranked #26 on TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time.
Physical appearance
Arthur is an eight-year-old male anthropomorphicAnthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
aardvark
Aardvark
The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa...
, and the star of the self-titled TV series and books. Though he is proclaimed to be an aardvark, many of his features sit in stark contrast with this. For example his small, rounded ears, large, bulbous snout and his lack of the large, conspicuous tail which aardvarks typically possess. His trademarks include his bright yellow sweater, blue jeans, big round glasses, and red-and-white sneakers that he wears in most appearances. According to creator Marc Brown, he is supposed to be a representation of the average American third-grader and is based on the author's own experiences growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
as a child.
In the first Arthur book, Arthur's Nose (1976), Arthur had a long nose; he therefore resembled an actual aardvark. However, his design changed over the first half dozen books; he now has a much shorter nose, and many more human features. In the second book of the series, 1979's Arthur's Eyes (in which Arthur still very strongly resembled a real aardvark), he acquired his trademark glasses.
Arthur's relationships
Family
A recurring theme in the Arthur series are the tensions between Arthur and his younger sister. Arthur is constantly pestered by his four-year-old sister Dora Winifred Read (nicknamed D.W.) and even though she celebrated her fifth birthday during the TV series' third season, Arthur still referred to her as a "four-year-old" in the episode Return of the Snowball, which aired in the seventh season. D.W. usually tries to get Arthur into trouble, although there are times when Arthur can also be mean to D.W. or retaliate. Despite that, Arthur tries his best to ignore D.W.'s annoying antics most of the time, and often does her favors - sometimes on his parents' behest - against his will.Arthur's parents include his mother Jane Read, who is a work-at-home accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and his father David L. Read, who runs a catering business. His mother is from the Pittsburgh area, and knew Fred Rogers as a child. He also has a baby sister named Kate and a pet dog named Pal.
Appearances from Arthur's extended family include Grandma Thora, Grandpa Dave, Uncle Fred, Uncle Richard (Dave's brother), Aunt Jessica, Aunt Loretta, Aunt Lucy, Great-Grandma (Thora's mother) and his cousins Cora, Monique, Ricky, and other unnamed relatives. However, the only two members of Arthur's extended family who have appeared more than once as of today are Grandma Thora and Grandpa Dave. Most of the Read family members are Ohio natives as well.
Grandma Thora lives in a house not too far from Arthur's in Elwood City and is known to be a bad cook, but a loving grandmother and a world-class marbles player. She loves to play Bingo every Friday night, and in some episodes has to watch over Arthur and D.W. Grandpa Dave lives on a farm that he claims has been in the family for 150 years.