Prunella Deegan

Prunella Deegan is a fourth-grader who lives in Elwood City. She is an avid reader and, like her sister Rubella, is interested in the supernatural. She made her first appearance in the book Arthur's Teacher Trouble in 1986, and has appeared in subsequent titles and later into the TV series. Her last name, Deegan, was taken from one of the writer's last names, Jacqui Deegan.

Appearance
Prunella is a tall, slender anthropomorphic rat with curly auburn hair and black eyes. In almost all of her appearances she is shown wearing a short turquoise dress. She occasionally has whites for eyes when she expresses surprise about things happening (although in the books, she was sometimes illustrated with visible whites around her eyes as well as the other characters, who were randomly drawn to have white or black eyes). During formal occasions, she wears a light blue dress with white strings that she ties together.

Personality
Prunella is fairly smart, superstitious, and a little bit selfish. At times she can be a snob. She often thinks that she is better then everybody at everything just because she is one year older then the third graders.

Prunella can be influenced by Muffy, even though they do not hang out with each other very often. For example, she hates kickball because she doesn't want to get her shoes dirty and she desires the finest clothes. She even acts like Muffy, like when she wanted new, hip pants called "Flash Pants".

Prunella is a major Henry Skreever fan along with her best friend Marina. They both have all of the books, loads of Henry Skreever merchandise, and even have Henry Skreever themed slumber parties.

Along with Henry Skreever she enjoys fortune-telling (such as gazing at the crystal ball and playing cootie catcher), yoga, and paranormal phenomena. However, her predictions are usually not accurate. Instead, she incorporates the prediction with an object in the room she is in.

Family
Prunella lives in Elwood City with her mother and older teenage sister Rubella. Prunella has a father who lives with her, but it is assumed that he works a lot because he is never home. He appeared momentarily in the episode "The Chips Are Down" at Rubella and Binky's ballet recital. She is nicknamed "Pruney" by her older sister.

Friends
Although Prunella is in fourth grade, she is usually friends with the third graders, but had a few fourth grade friends at her parties in Misfortune Teller and Prunella Gets it Twice.
 * Marina Dattilo: Prunella's best friend. They both like Henry Skreever and they play games related to it at each others' houses. Marina is a blind rabbit.
 * Muffy: Prunella's second best friend. Even if they don't hang out much Prunella acts a lot like Muffy sometimes, such as shopping (usually for new clothes). Prunella was once jealous when she didn't get to buy flash pants that Muffy bought and enjoyed.
 * Francine: They don't hang out much, and they don't share a lot in common, even though they are friends. Francine once bought her a second Polly Locket for her 10th birthday in Prunella Gets it Twice, and she also cheated Francine into thinking Arthur was in love with her in Arthur and the Square Dance.
 * Brain: Prunella and Brain are both smart but they rarely hang out with each other. However, Prunella did manage to keep Brain's secret of being held back in kindergarten in Brain's Shocking Secret. In the episode, the Blizzard, it could be implied that their mothers are friends, because Brain just happens to be at Prunella's house during most of the episode.

Trivia

 * She is often mistaken to be a poodle instead of a rat, likely because of Cleo from Clifford the Big Red Dog.