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Difference between revisions of "D.W.'s Library Card (episode)"

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When D.W. discovers that she can get her own library card, she rejoices at the world of books waiting for her. (Now if only she could sign her name to get the card in the first place...)<ref>http://www.klru.org/schedule/episode/193665/</ref>
When D.W. discovers that she can get her own library card, she rejoices at the world of books waiting for her. (Now if only she could sign her name to get the card in the first place...)<ref>http://www.klru.org/schedule/episode/193665/</ref>
==Plot==
==Plot==
[[File:DWLC_8-Year-Old_Baby_Arthur.png|thumb|left|200px|Arthur's imagination of himself dressed up as a baby for checking out baby books.]][[D.W. Read|D.W.]] goes to the [[Elwood City Public Library|library]] with her brother [[Arthur Read|Arthur]] and she has to learn how to write her name to get her first library card.
[[File:DWLC_8-Year-Old_Baby_Arthur.png|thumb|right|200px|Arthur's imagination of himself dressed up as a baby for checking out baby books.]]The episode starts off with Arthur explaining to the viewers that he loves coming to the library and what he likes most about it is how quiet is—but then D.W. comes in and starts pestering her brother, which leads to him saying, "Except on the days when I have to bring [my sister] with me."


[[Binky Barnes|Binky]] reads a book called ''[[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]]'' to D.W., but Arthur states she's bothering him, although Binky points out she's not listening to the story. He claims the book is about "Choppin'", a famous karate master, though D.W. knows it's actually about the great classical composer Frédéric Chopin. Arthur then takes D.W.'s hand and walks her away from Binky.
After Arthur tells D.W. to go pester someone else, she runs into [[Binky Barnes|Binky]], who reads a book called ''[[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]]'' to her. Arthur eventually comes by to get his sister, and after they leave Binky and walk past a cart with lots of books on it, D.W. sees a book called ''[[Hopalong the Frog]]'', which interests her. D.W. asks her brother to check out the book for her on his library card, but her refuses, not wanting to check out what he considers a "baby book" on his card. After he puts the book back where D.W. found it, she says that sooner or later, she will have her very own library card and check out whatever book she wants.


D.W. then picks up a book called [[Hopalong The Frog|Hopalong the Frog]], and suggests that Arthur should check it out for her. Arthur then receives the book from D.W., but refuses to check it out, believing that it is a baby book that could go onto his permanent record.
Eventually, D.W. goes to watch one of Mr. Ratburn's puppet shows with her fellow preschoolers, and after the show ends, D.W. asks Ms. Paige Turner, the librarian, when she and her classmates will be old enough to get their own library cards. Ms. Turner explains to her that she and her classmates are in fact old enough to have their own library cards. This gets D.W. and the other kids excited, and when they ask how cards they can have, Ms. Turner explains that the kids can each have one library card and that the only real requirement for them is that they have to be able to write their full names on the card.


Arthur then imagines himself checking out ''Hopalong the Frog'', but the alarms go off, red lights flash, the speaker says that Arthur is a baby and that the books leveled for his age and older are off limits (metal blocks drop down from the ceiling and onto the bookshelves that have books leveled for Arthur's age and older).
Despite her initial excitement, D.W. gets worried about this last thing, as she doesn't know how to read or write. The Tibble-twins brag that they know how to write their own names, but D.W. expresses worry about how she'll be able to write out her full name ("Dora Winifred Read"), especially since hardly anyone (including herself) says it. The twins assure her that it's at least a lot simpler than having a name like "[[Aloysius Zimmerplotz]]."


Then [[Paige Turner]] would punish Arthur by making him check out baby books only, plus dress him up as a baby by forcing him to wear a bonnet on his head, a pacifier in his mouth, a diaper over his pants, and carry a baby bottle in his hand, and then his friends (especially [[Francine Frensky|Francine]]) would call him a baby, and that a photo of him dressed as a baby would be taken, much to his embarrassment.
As they're walking home from the library, D.W. brags to her brother about how once she gets her library card, she's going to check out whatever book she wants, with the first book being ''Hopalong the Frog''. However, Arthur reminds his sister that she doesn't know how to read or write, but D.W. claims that she'll practice writing out her full name once they get home. D.W. soon gets to work doing so, but has great trouble with writing out her full name—her final attempt with writing out her full name ends with "DoBa Minifred ReaBed." While she and Arthur are later having dinner with their parents and Kate, D.W. complains to her parents about how she's been having trouble with writing out her full name for her upcoming library card. But Jane points out that D.W. has just written out her full name in the mashed potatoes that are part of her dinner—when D.W. looks down at the potatoes, she realizes that she's spelled her name out perfectly, which gets her excited.


Back to reality, Arthur then puts the book back where D.W. found it, and admits that it would be too risky for him to check it out. D.W. then admits that sooner or later, she will have her very own library card and check out whatever book she wants.
[[File:DWLC Handwriting Practice.png|thumb|right|D.W. learns how to write her full name.]]
[[File:DWLC Handwriting Improvements.png|thumb|right|200px|D.W.'s handwriting goes into improvements.]]


D.W. then goes to watch a puppet show hosted by [[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]] with the other pre-schoolers. After watching the show, D.W. asks Miss Turner when she will be old enough to get a library card, and Miss Turner admits that D.W. is old enough, because she's five years old.
The next time D.W.'s at the library is for her and her classmates to get their first library cards. D.W.'s focused on practicing her writing out her full name while the rest of her classmates are in line to get their cards. After the Tibble-twins get their cards, they bet that D.W. will end up messing up on writing her full name and end up not getting her library card. D.W. confidently states that she's already written out her full name 100-times, but when she gets in line to get her card, she starts getting nervous about what the Tibbles said. As soon as she walks up to Ms. Turner's desk, she writes out her full name on the card, and finally gets her first library card, which she shows off to her mom and brother.


Then the kids argue how many library cards they may have, but Ms. Turner says all of them each may have one library card, but should be able to write their full names, but D.W. doesn't know how to read or write. [[Tibble Twins|Tommy and Timmy Tibble]] say they know how to write, but D.W. began to worry since her full name is long and barely says it. Tommy said that her name is easy to spell and should be glad she doesn't have a name like [[Aloysius Zimmerplotz]]
D.W. then goes to check out her first library book, which is Hopalong the Frog. However, when she goes to the place where she and Arthur last saw it, the book isn't there anymore. Arthur figures that the library-workers probably just put it back on the shelves and suggests that they just go ask about it at the front desk. They do so, and Ms. Turner explains to them that someone has already checked out the book and that ''Hopalong the Frog'' won't come back for at least a week. The librarian admits that it might come back sooner, but the due date for it is next Saturday.


Arthur and D.W. then walk home from the library, and D.W. says she's going to get the same book, ''Hopalong the Frog'' and that Arthur can't do anything about it. Arthur proves that D.W. cannot read, but D.W. says that they have to write their full names to check out books. Arthur says that D.W. cannot write, either, but D.W. says she's going to learn to write.
D.W.'s ultimately forced to leave the library and wait for the book to come back, during which she pesters Ms. Turner about it. On the night before the book is due, D.W.'s pestering her brother about her worries for not being able to check out ''Hopalong the Frog'', but Arthur says that the book is due in twelve hours. The next morning, D.W. wakes up Arthur at 6:30 and tells him that she wants to get to the library as soon as it opens. Once they get to the library after it opens, D.W. once again asks if ''Hopalong the Frog'' has been returned yet. When Ms. Turner explains that it still hasn't been returned and admits that it might end up being late (meaning that it might not be returned until the next day or even later), D.W. gets mad. Arthur points out that D.W. could just check out a different book, but D.W. claims that that she only wants to check out ''Hopalong the Frog''. Though Arthur's tempted to just leave D.W. at the library by herself, he ultimately stays with her while she waits for her book to be returned.


[[File:DWLC Handwriting Practice.png|thumb|D.W. learns how to write her full name.]]
While D.W.'s hiding behind some bookshelves, she's spying on the front desk for people who're returning books. When she finds a boy walking up to the desk with a book, D.W. rushes over to the boy with a book, and asks him if it's a book on frogs, and he responds by saying it's called ''[[Chippy the Choo-Choo]]''.
At home, D.W. starts to learn to write by herself. On her first attempt, she writes a mirrored letter D, then crumples up the paper and throws it out.


Then she writes "DoRa" with the letter R capitalized backwards on another piece of paper, and crumpled that and threw it out. She takes another piece of paper, then writes the mirrored letter D, then the tip of the pencil breaks off.
D.W. is afraid that ''Hopalong the Frog'' might never come back, and then the Tibble Twins greet D.W., and she rushes over to them with the book they just checked out a week ago. D.W. thinks they damaged the book, but Miss Turner points out that the book was in that condition before the Tibble Twins checked it out, because the book was old.


She practices for hours, but all of her attempts fail. Then Arthur walks in, and finds out she wrote "DoBa Minifred ReaBed" with the letter B's capitalized and backwards, and the letter M as a flipped W in "Winifred". D.W. then faints that she cannot write.
The Tibble Twins point to D.W. that they would never damage a library book, and that D.W.'s library card might be revoked if she does. Then Miss Turner scans the book for D.W. along with her library card, and makes D.W. a promise to take good care of the book.


[[File:DWLC Handwriting Improvements.png|thumb|left|200px|D.W.'s handwriting goes into improvements.]]
[[File:DWLC Library Card Revoked Dream.png|thumb|right|200px|D.W.'s nightmare about getting her library card revoked after damaging a library book.]]D.W. then imagines herself getting ready to read the book, but then accidentally tears off the front cover and looks in shock and unfortunately her dream became a nightmare, and after putting the cover back on, the book crumbles up and turns into a cyclone and sends D.W. back to the library.


Back at the library, all of the preschoolers are checking out books, but D.W. is still practicing on her handwriting. Her handwriting starts improving, but she hears Tommy and Timmy Tibble taunting about her handwriting skills, and gets them back that she has just learned and spelled it 100 times.
Back at the library, it is not just a library, but rather a library courtroom with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. An evil Miss Turner then reprimands D.W. about damaging books, and that she will never have another library card again, and then stamps D.W.'s library card with a large red X-mark.


Her mother [[Jane Read|Jane]] then tells her she has to get in line with the students to write their names on their first library cards. D.W. writes her name, and Miss Turner accepts it. Then D.W. shows Arthur and Jane her new library card.
D.W. is standing in front of the desk that is at the height of a judge's podium, and the walls are made from bricks instead of smooth textures and the floor is of wood instead of carpeting, and the place itself was a terrible mess.


D.W. then goes to where she found ''Hopalong the Frog'', but the book is not there anymore. Arthur suggests that the book might be back in one of the shelves it may be sorted in. D.W. then walks over to Miss Turner's desk, and Miss Turner apologizes to D.W. saying it has already been checked out, and could come back next week.
D.W. complains that she worked so hard to get the library card, and then the Tibble Twins walk by with a stack of books and taunt to D.W. that there are more books for them. Then her evil brother Arthur walks by and insults her by telling her that she could'nt have a library card. Then D.W. falls to her knees and starts to cry that it isn't fair what happened.
 
D.W. is surprised, but doesn't believe it could take that long, and loses her patience for the book. Miss Turner says it could come back sooner, but that Saturday is the book's due date. Jane then tells D.W. it's time to go home. D.W. then asks Miss Turner twice if the book was returned, but Miss Turner proves it's still not back yet.
 
The following days, Miss Turner receives a phone call from the [[Reads' House|Read Residence]], and responds that the book is not back yet, and then hangs up.
 
While Miss Turner is eating her sandwich, she receives an e-mail from Jane about D.W.'s request, and then responds once again that the book is not back yet, and then D.W. groans.
 
At night, D.W. starts looking out the living room window, and sees Miss Turner walking on the sidewalk, and Miss Turner then tells D.W. that the book is still not back yet, although neither D.W. nor Miss Turner could hear each other.
 
At night, D.W. then asks Arthur whether or not Saturday may come, but Arthur says it's about twelve hours away. The next morning, D.W. wakes up Arthur, telling him it's Saturday. Arthur tells D.W. it is 6:30 AM, and that the library is not even open yet. D.W. says they should be the first ones to enter the library, and then hands Arthur a bowl of cereal.
 
Then Arthur and D.W. enter the library after it opens. D.W. asks Miss Turner that the book should be back already, but Miss Turner suggests it could be late. D.W. threatens to tell Miss Turner to call the police, but Arthur suggests that D.W. could check out another baby book, but them D.W. loses her temper and says she's wants ''Hopalong the Frog'' really bad, and says it's not a book for babies.
 
Arthur walks away from D.W. that he doesn't want to spend the whole Saturday at the library, and D.W. threatens to tell Arthur to go home, and that she will tell Jane he left her all alone at the library.
 
D.W. then hides behind the bookshelves, and she finds a boy walking up to the desk with a book. D.W. rushes over to the boy with a book, and asks him if it's a book on frogs, and he responds by saying it's called ''Chippy the Choo-Choo''.
 
D.W. is afraid that ''Hopalong the Frog'' might never come back, and then the Tibble twins greet D.W., and she rushes over to them with the book they just checked out a week ago. D.W. thinks they damaged the book, but Miss Turner points out that the book was in that condition before the Tibble twins checked it out, because the book was old.
 
The Tibble twins point to D.W. that they would never damage a library book, and that D.W.'s library card might be revoked if she does. Then Miss Turner scans the book for D.W. along with her library card, and makes D.W. a promise to take good care of the book.
 
[[File:DWLC Library Card Revoked Dream.png|thumb|200px|D.W.'s nightmare about getting her library card revoked after damaging a library book.]]D.W. then imagines herself getting ready to read the book, but then she tears off the front cover and looks in shock and unfortunately her dream became a nightmare, and after putting the cover back on, the book crumbles up and turns into a cyclone and sends D.W. back to the library.
 
Back at the library, it is not just a library, but rather a library courtroom with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. An evil Miss Turner then reprimands D.W. about damaging books, and that she will never have a library card again, and then stamps D.W.'s library card with a large red X-mark.
 
D.W. is standing in front of the desk that is at the height of a judge's podium, and the walls are made from bricks instead of smooth textures and the floor is of wood instead of carpeting, and the place itself was a horrible mess.
 
D.W. complains that she worked so hard to get the library card, and then the Tibble twins walk by with a stack of books and taunt to D.W. that there are more books for them. Then her evil brother Arthur walks by and insults her by telling her that she would never have a library card. Then D.W. falls to her knees and starts to cry that it isn't fair what happened.
 
[[File:DWLC Arthur Reading DW.png|thumb|left|200px|Arthur reading ''Hopalong the Frog'' to D.W.]]


[[File:DWLC Arthur Reading DW.png|thumb|right|200px|Arthur reading ''Hopalong the Frog'' to D.W.]]
Back at home, D.W. is in her room, still worried about the book's condition. Arthur then walks into her room, and thinks she was bothering him all night to make him read her ''Hopalong the Frog''.
Back at home, D.W. is in her room, still worried about the book's condition. Arthur then walks into her room, and thinks she was bothering him all night to make him read her ''Hopalong the Frog''.


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*[[Arthur Read]]
*[[Arthur Read]]
*[[Paige Turner]]
*[[Paige Turner]]
===Minor===
*[[Binky Barnes]]
*[[Jane Read]]
*[[Jane Read]]
*[[David Read]]
*[[David Read]]
*[[Binky Barnes]]
===Minor===
*[[Timmy and Tommy Tibble]]
*[[Timmy and Tommy Tibble]]
*[[Nigel Ratburn]]
*[[Nigel Ratburn]]
Line 104: Line 75:
*[[Francine Frensky]] (voice in Arthur's imagination)
*[[Francine Frensky]] (voice in Arthur's imagination)
*[[Muffy Crosswire]] (voice in Arthur's imagination)
*[[Muffy Crosswire]] (voice in Arthur's imagination)
===Cameo===
*[[Steve]]
*[[Brian (4th grader)|Brian]]
*[[George Lundgren]]
*[[Maria Pappas]]
*[[Liam]]
*[[Amanda Hulser]]
*[[Kyle]]
*[[Edwin]]
*[[Maryann]]
*[[Sarah]]
*[[Lisa]]
*[[3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 2)]]


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The library cards depicted in this episode feature a book with wings, but "[[Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival]]," the cards included a picture of the cardholder. This may have been to avoid spending time on a scene in which D.W. and the other children had to have their photos taken for their cards. (In reality, library cards in the United States are not typically also photo IDs.)
*The library cards depicted in this episode feature a book with wings, but "[[Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival]]", the cards included a picture of the cardholder. This may have been to avoid spending time on a scene in which D.W. and the other children had to have their photos taken for their cards. (In reality, library cards in the United States are not typically also photo IDs.)
 
*One image is in 16:9 very rare for Season 1-15 to do that.
*A screenshot from this episode is featured in the picture book ''If All the Animals Came Inside'', which was written by Eric Pinder, but illustrated by [[Marc Brown]]. In the scene in question, the main character of the book is in his living room with several rhinoceroses, and it states "The rhinos downstairs would be watching TV. They'd stand in the way and leave no more room for me!". The television shows [[:Image:DWLC Arthur Reading DW.png|D.W. with Arthur, reading ''Hopalong the Frog'']].
*This is the first episode [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] says her own full name herself, even though she still prefers her initial name, and she learns how to spell it herself for her own library card.
*This is the first episode where [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] is voiced by [[Oliver Grainger]], who succeeded [[Michael Caloz]].
*This is the first episode to use digital ink-and-paint animation.
*This is the first episode where an episode premieres on the PBS Kids channel, after it rebranded from PTV Park to PBS Kids.
**First episode to use the 1999-2013 PBS Kids Logo.
*'''Timeline:'''
**D.W. later shows her ''Hopalong the Frog ''book in "[[Arthur's New Friend]]".
**[[Arthur Read|Arthur]] mentions [[D.W. Read|D.W.]]'s [[Hopalong the Frog]] book in [[Hide and Snake]].
**According to the calendar in Arthur's room, this episode takes place in September.
===Cultural references===
===Cultural references===
*When D.W. looks on the same shelf looking for Hop Along the Frog, you can see a book called "Pete Rabbit," obviously referencing "{{W|Peter Rabbit}}"; and a book called "The Life and Times of [[Marc Brown]]."
*When D.W. looks on the same shelf looking for ''Hopalong the Frog'', you can see a book called "Pete Rabbit", obviously referencing "{{W|Peter Rabbit}}"; and a book called "The Life and Times of [[Marc Brown]]".
*The book D.W. found that was titled ''The Red Dog'' is partly a reference to ''{{W|Clifford the Big Red Dog}}'', which itself was adapted as a television series for PBS Kids. It also references an actual book, ''The Red Wolf (Endangered in America) ''by Alvin, Virginia and Robert Silverstein, which appears in the "Word From Us Kids" interstitial for this episode.
*The book D.W. found that was titled ''The Red Dog'' is partly a reference to ''{{W|Clifford the Big Red Dog}}'', which itself was adapted as a television series for PBS Kids. It also references an actual book, ''The Red Wolf (Endangered in America) ''by Alvin, Virginia and Robert Silverstein, which appears in the "Word From Us Kids" interstitial for this episode.
===Episode connections===
===Episode connections===
*Arthur wearing some baby clothes is a reference to a reunion flashback where [[Monique|Mo]] once dressed him up as a baby in "[[Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe]]".
*Arthur wearing baby clothes is a reference to a reunion flashback where [[Monique|Mo]] once dressed him up as a baby in "[[Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe]]".
*D.W. later shows her ''Hopalong the frog ''book in [[Arthur's New Friend]].
 
===Errors===
===Errors===
*While Arthur is wearing his black jacket, his yellow sweater that he usually wears is missing whenever the jacket is seen partially unzipped.
*While Arthur is wearing his black jacket, the yellow sweater that he usually wears is missing whenever the jacket is seen partially unzipped.
*At the beginning when D.W. has the book "The Red Dog" the dog on the cover is mistakenly colored brown instead of red.
*At the beginning when D.W. has the book "The Red Dog" the dog on the cover is mistakenly colored brown instead of red.
===Production notes===
 
*This is the first episode where [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] is voiced by [[Oliver Grainger]], who succeeded [[Michael Caloz]].
==Home Video==
DVD
*[[Arthur's Lost Library Book (DVD)]]


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{CollapsingGallery|
===Videos===
<gallery>
ARTHUR Arthur Loves the Library PBS KIDS
</gallery>
===Promotional images===
===Promotional images===
<gallery>
<gallery>
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1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001058.png
1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001058.png
Hopalong the Frog.png
Hopalong the Frog.png
</gallery>}}
</gallery>
 
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{EpisodeNav|4}}
{{EpisodeNav|4}}
[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:Season 4 episodes]]
[[Category:Season 4 episodes]]
[[Category:Paragraph Needs Improvements]]
[[Category:Paragraph Needs Improvements]]
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[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Arthur episodes]]
[[Category:Arthur episodes]]
[[Category:1999]]

Latest revision as of 02:01, 16 February 2024

This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the book.
"D.W.'s Library Card"
D.W.'s Library Card 001.png
D.W.'s Library Card Title Card.png
Season/Series: 4
Number in season: 1A
Original Airdate: United States October 4, 1999[1]
Canada January 17, 2000[2]
Credits
Written by: Peter K. Hirsch
Storyboard by: Mario Cabrera
Episodes
Previous
"The Long, Dull Winter" 		Next
"Arthur's Big Hit"
Read transcript
"D.W.'s Library Card" is the first half of the first episode in the fourth season of Arthur. It was later adapted into the book D.W.'s Library Card.

Summary[edit]

When D.W. discovers that she can get her own library card, she rejoices at the world of books waiting for her. (Now if only she could sign her name to get the card in the first place...)[3]

Plot[edit]

Arthur's imagination of himself dressed up as a baby for checking out baby books.
The episode starts off with Arthur explaining to the viewers that he loves coming to the library and what he likes most about it is how quiet is—but then D.W. comes in and starts pestering her brother, which leads to him saying, "Except on the days when I have to bring [my sister] with me."

After Arthur tells D.W. to go pester someone else, she runs into Binky, who reads a book called Chopin to her. Arthur eventually comes by to get his sister, and after they leave Binky and walk past a cart with lots of books on it, D.W. sees a book called Hopalong the Frog, which interests her. D.W. asks her brother to check out the book for her on his library card, but her refuses, not wanting to check out what he considers a "baby book" on his card. After he puts the book back where D.W. found it, she says that sooner or later, she will have her very own library card and check out whatever book she wants.

Eventually, D.W. goes to watch one of Mr. Ratburn's puppet shows with her fellow preschoolers, and after the show ends, D.W. asks Ms. Paige Turner, the librarian, when she and her classmates will be old enough to get their own library cards. Ms. Turner explains to her that she and her classmates are in fact old enough to have their own library cards. This gets D.W. and the other kids excited, and when they ask how cards they can have, Ms. Turner explains that the kids can each have one library card and that the only real requirement for them is that they have to be able to write their full names on the card.

Despite her initial excitement, D.W. gets worried about this last thing, as she doesn't know how to read or write. The Tibble-twins brag that they know how to write their own names, but D.W. expresses worry about how she'll be able to write out her full name ("Dora Winifred Read"), especially since hardly anyone (including herself) says it. The twins assure her that it's at least a lot simpler than having a name like "Aloysius Zimmerplotz."

As they're walking home from the library, D.W. brags to her brother about how once she gets her library card, she's going to check out whatever book she wants, with the first book being Hopalong the Frog. However, Arthur reminds his sister that she doesn't know how to read or write, but D.W. claims that she'll practice writing out her full name once they get home. D.W. soon gets to work doing so, but has great trouble with writing out her full name—her final attempt with writing out her full name ends with "DoBa Minifred ReaBed." While she and Arthur are later having dinner with their parents and Kate, D.W. complains to her parents about how she's been having trouble with writing out her full name for her upcoming library card. But Jane points out that D.W. has just written out her full name in the mashed potatoes that are part of her dinner—when D.W. looks down at the potatoes, she realizes that she's spelled her name out perfectly, which gets her excited.

D.W. learns how to write her full name.
D.W.'s handwriting goes into improvements.

The next time D.W.'s at the library is for her and her classmates to get their first library cards. D.W.'s focused on practicing her writing out her full name while the rest of her classmates are in line to get their cards. After the Tibble-twins get their cards, they bet that D.W. will end up messing up on writing her full name and end up not getting her library card. D.W. confidently states that she's already written out her full name 100-times, but when she gets in line to get her card, she starts getting nervous about what the Tibbles said. As soon as she walks up to Ms. Turner's desk, she writes out her full name on the card, and finally gets her first library card, which she shows off to her mom and brother.

D.W. then goes to check out her first library book, which is Hopalong the Frog. However, when she goes to the place where she and Arthur last saw it, the book isn't there anymore. Arthur figures that the library-workers probably just put it back on the shelves and suggests that they just go ask about it at the front desk. They do so, and Ms. Turner explains to them that someone has already checked out the book and that Hopalong the Frog won't come back for at least a week. The librarian admits that it might come back sooner, but the due date for it is next Saturday.

D.W.'s ultimately forced to leave the library and wait for the book to come back, during which she pesters Ms. Turner about it. On the night before the book is due, D.W.'s pestering her brother about her worries for not being able to check out Hopalong the Frog, but Arthur says that the book is due in twelve hours. The next morning, D.W. wakes up Arthur at 6:30 and tells him that she wants to get to the library as soon as it opens. Once they get to the library after it opens, D.W. once again asks if Hopalong the Frog has been returned yet. When Ms. Turner explains that it still hasn't been returned and admits that it might end up being late (meaning that it might not be returned until the next day or even later), D.W. gets mad. Arthur points out that D.W. could just check out a different book, but D.W. claims that that she only wants to check out Hopalong the Frog. Though Arthur's tempted to just leave D.W. at the library by herself, he ultimately stays with her while she waits for her book to be returned.

While D.W.'s hiding behind some bookshelves, she's spying on the front desk for people who're returning books. When she finds a boy walking up to the desk with a book, D.W. rushes over to the boy with a book, and asks him if it's a book on frogs, and he responds by saying it's called Chippy the Choo-Choo.

D.W. is afraid that Hopalong the Frog might never come back, and then the Tibble Twins greet D.W., and she rushes over to them with the book they just checked out a week ago. D.W. thinks they damaged the book, but Miss Turner points out that the book was in that condition before the Tibble Twins checked it out, because the book was old.

The Tibble Twins point to D.W. that they would never damage a library book, and that D.W.'s library card might be revoked if she does. Then Miss Turner scans the book for D.W. along with her library card, and makes D.W. a promise to take good care of the book.

D.W.'s nightmare about getting her library card revoked after damaging a library book.
D.W. then imagines herself getting ready to read the book, but then accidentally tears off the front cover and looks in shock and unfortunately her dream became a nightmare, and after putting the cover back on, the book crumbles up and turns into a cyclone and sends D.W. back to the library.

Back at the library, it is not just a library, but rather a library courtroom with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. An evil Miss Turner then reprimands D.W. about damaging books, and that she will never have another library card again, and then stamps D.W.'s library card with a large red X-mark.

D.W. is standing in front of the desk that is at the height of a judge's podium, and the walls are made from bricks instead of smooth textures and the floor is of wood instead of carpeting, and the place itself was a terrible mess.

D.W. complains that she worked so hard to get the library card, and then the Tibble Twins walk by with a stack of books and taunt to D.W. that there are more books for them. Then her evil brother Arthur walks by and insults her by telling her that she could'nt have a library card. Then D.W. falls to her knees and starts to cry that it isn't fair what happened.

Arthur reading Hopalong the Frog to D.W.

Back at home, D.W. is in her room, still worried about the book's condition. Arthur then walks into her room, and thinks she was bothering him all night to make him read her Hopalong the Frog.

D.W. then hides the book and believes that Arthur has already done enough for her. Then the days pass by from Saturday the 12th until Saturday the 19th. As D.W. is eating her breakfast, Arthur reminds her it is Saturday, and time to return the book, but neither one read the book.

D.W. then rushes back to her room to find the book, only hidden in a box and covered with one of her blankets. D.W. was too afraid to open the book, that it would fall apart and that she might lose her library card, and then asks Arthur to open the book, so he does it for her.

Arthur then finds out he checked out Hopalong the Frog when he was D.W.'s age after he learned to write his name, and then tells D.W. it was the first book he ever checked out and imagines his younger self (before he got glasses) saying it was his first book.

Arthur then admits that Hopalong the Frog is not a baby book, but he really loved the book when he was in preschool, and that it's fun to read to little kids.

Arthur then starts reading the book to D.W., and after reading the whole book, D.W. starts crying, and Arthur says it was a happy story if D.W. liked it or not, and D.W. proves she did like the book and that she is sad she needs to return the book. Arthur points out that it is possible to re-check a book in order to read it as many times as possible.

Then Arthur and D.W. return to the library, and D.W. gets Hopalong the Frog renewed, and then she tells Miss Turner that Arthur is going to read her the book as many times as possible. Arthur then decides he's bored with the book, and admits that D.W. should have returned the book than had it re-checked.

Characters[edit]

Major[edit]

Minor[edit]

Cameo[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • The library cards depicted in this episode feature a book with wings, but "Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival", the cards included a picture of the cardholder. This may have been to avoid spending time on a scene in which D.W. and the other children had to have their photos taken for their cards. (In reality, library cards in the United States are not typically also photo IDs.)
  • One image is in 16:9 very rare for Season 1-15 to do that.
  • A screenshot from this episode is featured in the picture book If All the Animals Came Inside, which was written by Eric Pinder, but illustrated by Marc Brown. In the scene in question, the main character of the book is in his living room with several rhinoceroses, and it states "The rhinos downstairs would be watching TV. They'd stand in the way and leave no more room for me!". The television shows D.W. with Arthur, reading Hopalong the Frog.
  • This is the first episode D.W. says her own full name herself, even though she still prefers her initial name, and she learns how to spell it herself for her own library card.
  • This is the first episode where D.W. is voiced by Oliver Grainger, who succeeded Michael Caloz.
  • This is the first episode to use digital ink-and-paint animation.
  • This is the first episode where an episode premieres on the PBS Kids channel, after it rebranded from PTV Park to PBS Kids.
    • First episode to use the 1999-2013 PBS Kids Logo.
  • Timeline:

Cultural references[edit]

  • When D.W. looks on the same shelf looking for Hopalong the Frog, you can see a book called "Pete Rabbit", obviously referencing "Peter Rabbit"; and a book called "The Life and Times of Marc Brown".
  • The book D.W. found that was titled The Red Dog is partly a reference to Clifford the Big Red Dog, which itself was adapted as a television series for PBS Kids. It also references an actual book, The Red Wolf (Endangered in America) by Alvin, Virginia and Robert Silverstein, which appears in the "Word From Us Kids" interstitial for this episode.

Episode connections[edit]

Errors[edit]

  • While Arthur is wearing his black jacket, the yellow sweater that he usually wears is missing whenever the jacket is seen partially unzipped.
  • At the beginning when D.W. has the book "The Red Dog" the dog on the cover is mistakenly colored brown instead of red.

Home Video[edit]

DVD

Gallery[edit]

Promotional images[edit]

  • 401a promo.jpg

Screenshots[edit]

  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 000252.png
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 000305.png
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 000643 (hqdefault (5).jpg
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 000816.jpg
  • 1999-09-06 - 4x01a 000921.jpg
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001046.png
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001048.png
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001051.png
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001055.png
  • 1999-09-06 - Arthur - 4x01a 001058.png
  • Hopalong the Frog.png

References[edit]

  1. ↑ http://www.ket.org/episode/ARUR%20%20000401/
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120413104003/http://ww3.tvo.org/program/157024/arthur
  3. ↑ http://www.klru.org/schedule/episode/193665/



Episodes
Season 4
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