Editing Jane Read

{{Character infobox
|image = Mom.png
|gender = Female
|animal = Aardvark<ref>http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/help/answers/faq_friends.html ([https://web.archive.org/web/20171102021621/http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/help/answers/faq_friends.html archived page])</ref>
|birthday = During "[[Return of the Snowball]]"
|hair = Medium brown
|complexion = Tan
|favorite color = Violet<ref>http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/tradingcards/cards.html#pg-mom2</ref><br>Blue<ref>''[[Arthur Loses His Patience]]''</ref>
|residence = [[Reads' House]], [[Elwood City]]
|family = 
*[[Dave]] <small>(father)</small><br>
*[[David Read]] <small>(husband)</small><br>
*[[Arthur Read]] <small>(son)</small><br>
*[[D.W. Read]] <small>(daughter)</small><br>
*[[Kate Read]] <small>(daughter)</small>
*[[Fred]] <small>(brother)</small><br>
*[[Lucy]] <small>(sister)</small><br>
*[[Lucy's husband]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small><br>
*[[Jessica (aunt)|Jessica]] <small>(sister)</small> <br>
*[[Richard]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small><br>
*[[Cora]] <small>(niece)</small><br>
*[[Ryder]] <small>(nephew)</small><br>
*[[Gustav]] <small>(great-grandfather)</small><br>
*[[Theodore Read]] <small>(great-grandfather)</small><br>
*[[Jane's great-grandmother]] <small>(great-grandmother)</small><br>
*[[Jane's great-grandfather]] <small>(great-grandfather)</small><br>
*[[Matthew (sailor)|Matthew]] <small>(great-great uncle)</small><br>
*[[Thora Read]] <small>(mother-in-law)</small><br>
*[[David's brother]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small><br>
*[[Sean (uncle)|Sean]] <small>(brother-in-law)<br>
*[[Bonnie (aunt)|Bonnie]] <small>(sister-in-law)</small><br>
*[[George (cousin)|George]] <small>(nephew)</small><br>
*[[Bud (uncle)|Bud]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small><br>
*[[Loretta]] <small>(sister-in-law)</small><br>
*[[Monique]] <small>(niece)</small><br>
*[[Ricky]] <small>(nephew)</small><br>
*[[Loretta's daughter]] <small>(niece)</small>
|job = Accountant
|book_debut = [[Arthur's Nose]]
|cartoon_debut = "[[Arthur's Eyes (episode)|Arthur's Eyes]]"
|voice_actor = [[Sonja Ball]]
}}'''Jane Read''' is the mother of [[Arthur Read|Arthur]], [[D.W. Read|D.W.]], and [[Kate Read|Kate]]. She is married to [[David Read]], and works as a full-time work-at-home tax accountant. She is also the daughter of her children's grandfather [[Dave]].

==Physical appearance==
Jane Read is depicted as a tan aardvark with shaggy brown hair and wears a pink sweater over a white shirt, blue jeans, and white Velcro shoes with purple loops. Like her son Arthur, the white shirt she wears underneath the sweater is tucked into her pants. Originally, she had a long snout and was based upon an actual aardvark with the rest of her family in ''[[Arthur's Nose]]''. She and the other aardvarks were redesigned in ''[[Arthur's Eyes (book)|Arthur's Eyes]]'', which was published three years later. In the 1980s, she and the other aardvarks had their snouts gradually shortened until they became flat. In the books, she wore different clothes of different colors. In the episode "[[Crushed]]" she dressed like a princess when filling in for the head caterer of the medieval reenactment society, and again in D.W.'s dream in "[[D.W.'s Time Trouble]]", when D.W. traveled back in time; the difference between the costumes of the two episodes was the color; it was purple in "Crushed" and pink in "D.W.'s Time Trouble". Her sleepwear is yellow pajamas with a pink collar. While she was pregnant with Kate, she was seen wearing a white collared shirt with blue jeans and a yellow dress as sleepwear. Jane's summer attire is often a cream-colored sundress and a red one-piece swimsuit with a yellow stripe, or a blue variant with a green stripe.

==Past life==
Jane grew up near an [[Town (Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm)|unidentified town]] on [[Dave|Grandpa Dave]]'s Farm (inferred, as her father, Grandpa Dave, is said to have lived there for a long time). When Jane was a baby, she wore a pink dress with white cuffs, a white hair bow, and white shoes. Her diaper was covered by the skirt, and it is likely she wore wool diapers since they were in favor when she and others her age were babies. During her high school years, when she started going out with David, she had longer, thicker hair and wore pink disco clothes with white boots that were fashionable between the late 1960s through the 1970s. She is mostly known as a normal person. In "[[Arthur Meets Mr. Rogers]]", [[Mr. Rogers]] states that he knew Jane when she was young.

==Appearances==
{{scroll box|
*Specials
**"[[Arthur's New Friend]]"
**"[[Arthur's Perfect Christmas]]"
**"[[Arthur - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll]]"
**"[[D.W. and the Beastly Birthday]]"
**"[[Arthur and the Haunted Tree House]]"
**"[[The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur]]"
*[[Season 1]]
**"[[Arthur's Eyes (episode)|Arthur's Eyes]]" 10101
**"[[Arthur's Spelling Trubble]]" 10202
**"[[D.W. All Wet (episode)|D.W. All Wet]]" 10301
**"[[D.W.'s Imaginary Friend]]" 10401
**"[[Arthur's Pet Business (episode)|Arthur's Pet Business]]" 10402
**"[[Arthur's Lost Library Book]]" 10501
**"[[D.W. the Copycat]]" 10502
**"[[Locked in the Library! (episode)|Locked in the Library!]]" 10601
**"[[Arthur Goes to Camp (episode)|Arthur Goes to Camp]]" 10701
**"[[Arthur's New Puppy (episode)|Arthur's New Puppy]]" 10801
**"[[Arthur Bounces Back]]" 10802
**"[[Arthur Babysits (episode)|Arthur Babysits]]" {{c|cameo}} 10901
**"[[Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe]]" 10902
**"[[Arthur's Birthday (episode)|Arthur's Birthday]]" 11001
**"[[Arthur's Baby (episode)|Arthur's Baby]]" 11101
**"[[D.W.'s Baby]]" 11102
**"[[Arthur Writes a Story (episode)|Arthur Writes a Story]]" 11201
**"[[Arthur's Lost Dog]]" 11202
**"[[So Long, Spanky]]" 11301
**"[[Buster's New Friend (episode)|Buster's New Friend]]" 11302
**"[[Arthur the Wrecker]]" 11401
**"[[Arthur's Family Vacation (episode)|Arthur's Family Vacation]]" 11501
**"[[Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm]]" 11502
**"[[Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest (episode)|Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest]]" 11601
**"[[D.W. Flips (episode)|D.W. Flips]]" 11602
**"[[Arthur's Chicken Pox (episode)|Arthur's Chicken Pox]]" 11801
**"[[Sick as a Dog]]" 11802
**"[[D.W. Rides Again (episode)|D.W. Rides Again]]" 11901
**"[[Arthur Makes the Team (episode)|Arthur Makes the Team]]" 11902
**"[[Arthur's Almost Boring Day]]" 12001
**"[[The Half-Baked Sale]]" 12002
**"[[The Perfect Brother]]" 12102
**"[[D.W.'s Snow Mystery]]" 12201
**"[[Misfortune Teller]]" 12302
**"[[Arthur's Tooth (episode)|Arthur's Tooth]]" 12401
**"[[D.W. Gets Lost]]" 12402
**"[[D.W. Thinks Big (episode)|D.W. Thinks Big]]" 12501
**"[[Arthur Cleans Up]]" 12502
**"[[D.W.'s Blankie]]" 12701
**"[[Arthur's Substitute Teacher Trouble]]" {{c|cameo}} 12702
**"[[The Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club]]" 12802
**"[[Arthur's First Sleepover (episode)|Arthur's First Sleepover]]" 13001
**"[[Arthur's New Year's Eve]]" 13002
*[[Season 2]]
**"[[Arthur Meets Mister Rogers]]" 20101
**"[[Arthur's Lucky Pencil]]" 20202
**"[[D.W., the Picky Eater (episode)|D.W., the Picky Eater]]" 20301
**"[[Buster and the Daredevils]]" 20302
**"[[Arthur Makes a Movie]]" {{c|cameo}} 20401
**"[[Go to Your Room, D.W.]]" 20402
**"[[Arthur's Underwear (episode)|Arthur's Underwear]]" 20501
**"[[Play it Again, D.W.]]" 20602
**"[[Arthur's TV-Free Week]]" 20701
**"[[Night Fright]]" {{c|mentioned}} 20702
**"[[Arthur vs. the Piano]]" 20801
**"[[The Big Blow-Up]]" {{c|cameo}} 20802
**"[[Lost!]]" 20901
**[[The Short, Quick Summer]] 20902
**"[[D.W. Goes to Washington]]" 21001
**"[[Arthur's Mystery Envelope (episode)|Arthur's Mystery Envelope]]" 21002
**"[[D.W.'s Deer Friend]]" 21101
**"[[Buster Hits the Books]]" {{c|voice heard}} 21102
**"[[Arthur's Faraway Friend]]" 21201
**"[[Arthur and the Square Dance]]" 21202
**"[[Arthur the Unfunny]]" 21302
**"[[Sue Ellen's Lost Diary]]" 21401
**"[[Arthur's Knee]]" 21402
**"[[Grandma Thora Appreciation Day]]" 21501
**"[[D.W. Blows the Whistle]]" 21602
**"[[Francine Redecorates]]" 21701
**"[[Arthur the Loser]]" 21702
**"[[D.W.'s Very Bad Mood]]" 21802
**"[[D.W.'s Name Game]]" 21901
**"[[Finders Key-pers]]" 21902
**"[[How the Cookie Crumbles]]" 22001
**"[[Sue Ellen's Little Sister]]" {{c|cameo}} 22002
*[[Season 3]]
**"[[Buster's Back]]" 30101
**[[D.W. All Fired Up]] 30201
**"[[I'd Rather Read It Myself]]" 30202
**"[[The Chips are Down]]" 30501
**"[[Revenge of the Chip]]" 30502
**"[[Meet Binky]]" 30602
**"[[Dad's Dessert Dilemma]]" 30702
**"[[Arthur's Treasure Hunt]]" 30901
**"[[Attack of the Turbo Tibbles]]" 31001
**"[[D.W. Tricks the Tooth Fairy]]" 31002
**"[[Double Tibble Trouble]]" 31101
**"[[Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival]]" 31102
**"[[Clarissa is Cracked]]" 31202
**"[[Francine and the Feline]]" 31302
**"[[Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight]]" 31401
**"[[D.W.'s Perfect Wish]]" 31402
**"[[Arthur and D.W. Clean Up]]" 31501
**"[[The Long, Dull Winter]]" 31502
*[[Season 4]]
**"[[D.W.'s Library Card (episode)|D.W.'s Library Card]]" 40101
**"[[Arthur's Big Hit]]" 40102
**"[[Hide and Snake]]" 40201
**"[[Buster's Breathless]]" 40301
**"[[Prove It]]" {{c|cameo}} 40402
**"[[The Blizzard]]" 40501
**"[[The Rat Who Came to Dinner]]" 40502
**"[[Prunella's Prediction]]" 40802
**"[[What is that Thing?]]" 40901
**"[[Buster's Best Behavior]]" 40902
**"[[My Music Rules]]" 41001
*[[Season 5]]
**"[[Arthur and the Big Riddle]]" 50101
**"[[Double Dare]]" 50102
**"[[Kids are from Earth, Parents are from Pluto]]" 50201
**"[[Nerves of Steal]]" 50202
**"[[The Shore Thing]]" {{c|cameo}} 50302
**"[[The World Record]]" 50401
**"[[The Cave]]" 50402
**"[[The Lousy Week]]" 50501
**"[[You Are Arthur]]" 50502
**"[[Pet Peeved]]" 50702
**"[[The Last of Mary Moo Cow]]" 50801
**[[Just Desserts]] {{c|mentioned}} 50901
**"[[The Big Dig]]" 50902
**"[[Arthur's Family Feud]]" 51001
*[[Season 6]]
**"[[Arthur Plays the Blues (episode)|Arthur Plays the Blues]]" 60201
**"[[The Secret Life of Dogs and Babies]]" 60302
**"[[Muffy's Soccer Shocker]]" 60401
**"[[Arthur and Los Vecinos]]" 60502
**"[[Citizen Frensky]]" 60601
**"[[D.W.'s Backpack Mishap]]" 60602
**"[[More!]]" 60702
**"[[For Whom the Bell Tolls]]" 60802
**"[[Crushed]]" 60902
*[[Season 7]]
**"[[Cast Away]]" 70101
**"[[The Great Sock Mystery]]" 70102
**"[[Ants in Arthur's Pants]]" 70301
**"[[To Tibble the Truth]]" 70401
**"[[Elwood City Turns 100!]]" 70501
**"[[Pick a Car, Any Car]]" 70601
**"[[D.W.'s Time Trouble]]" 70701
**"[[Buster's Amish Mismatch]]" {{c|cameo}} 70702
**"[[Is There a Doctor in the House?]]" 70801
**"[[Return of the Snowball]]" 70902
**"[[April 9th]]" {{c|cameo}} 71001
*[[Season 8]]
**"[[Arthur's Snow Biz]]" 80301
**"[[Bugged]]" 80302
**"[[D.W., Dancing Queen]]" {{c|cameo}} 80402
**"[[Postcards from Buster (episode)|Postcards from Buster]]" 80601
**"[[Tales from the Crib]]" 80802
**"[[Flea to Be You and Me]]" 80901
**"[[Kiss and Tell]]" 80902
**"[[Bleep]]" 81002
*[[Season 9]]
**"[[Castles in the Sky]]" {{c|past}} 90101
**"[[Francine's Big Top Trouble]]" {{c|cameo}} 90201
**"[[George Blows His Top]]" 90202
**"[[Arthur Weighs In]]" 90301
**"[[My Fair Tommy]]" {{c|cameo}} 90402
**"[[Lights, Camera... Opera!]]" 90501
**"[[All Worked Up]]" 90502
**"[[It Came From Beyond]]" 90602
**"[[A is for Angry]]" 90702
**"[[Emily Swallows a Horse]]" 90802
**"[[D.W. Beats All]]" 90901
**"[[Buster the Myth Maker]]" {{c|cameo}} 90902
*[[Season 10]]
**"[[Happy Anniversary]]" 10010
**"[[The Squirrels (episode)|The Squirrels]]" 100201
**"[[Fern and Persimmony Glitchet]]" {{c|cameo}} 100202
**"[[The Secret About Secrets]]" 100302
**"[[Family Fortune]]" 100402
**"[[Flaw and Order]]" 100502
**"[[Arthur Changes Gears]]" {{c|cameo}} 100602
**"[[Unfinished]]" 100701
**"[[D.W., Bossy Boots]]" 100702
**"[[Binky vs. Binky]]" {{c|cameo}} 100801
**"[[Operation: D.W.!]]" 100802
**"[[What's Cooking?]]" 101001
*[[Season 11]]
**"[[Swept Away]]" 110101
**"[[Arthur Sells Out]]" 110201
**"[[Dancing Fools]]" 110602
**"[[Hic or Treat]]" 110701
**"[[Buster Gets Real]]" 110802
**"[[D.W. on Ice]]" 110901
**"[[Big Brother Binky]]" 11100
*[[Season 12]]
**"[[Never, Never, Never]]" 120101
**"[[The Frensky Family Fiasco]]" {{c|cameo}} 120201
**"[[D.W.'s Stray Netkitten]]" 120301
**"[[The Blackout]]" 120801
**"[[Mei Lin Takes a Stand]]" {{c|cameo}} 120802
**"[[Do You Believe in Magic?]]" 120902
**"[[D.W.'s Furry Freak-out]]" 121002
*[[Season 13]]
**"[[Kung Fool]]" 130202
**"[[Arthur's Number Nightmare]]" {{c|fantasy}} 130301
**"[[No Acting, Please]]" {{c|cameo}} 130501
**"[[D.W. Swims with the Fishes]]" 130602
**"[[Paradise Lost]]" 130901
**"[[The Secret Origin of Supernova]]" {{c|cameo}} 131002
*[[Season 14]]
**"[[Falafelosophy]]" {{c|cameo}} 140401
**"[[Pet Projects]]" {{c|cameo}} 140502
**"[[Buster Baxter & the Letter from the Sea]]" {{c|cameo}} 140602
**"[[Around the World in 11 Minutes]]" {{c|cameo}} 140701
**"[[Muffy and the Big Bad Blog]]" {{c|cameo}} 140702
**"[[D.W., Queen of the Comeback]]" 140901
*[[Season 15]]
**"[[Fifteen]]" 150100
**"[[The Last King of Lambland]]" {{c|flashback}} 150302
**"[[S.W.E.A.T.]]" {{c|cameo}} 150502
**"[[Grandpa Dave's Memory Album]]" 150601
**"[[Best Enemies]]" 150802
**"[[Through the Looking Glasses]]" 150902
**"[[The Trouble with Trophies]]" 151002
*[[Season 16]]
**"[[All About D.W.]]" {{c|cameo}} 160301
**"[[Blockheads]]" 160302
*[[Season 17]]
**"[[Dog's Best Friend]]" {{c|cameo}} 170102
**"[[Adventures in Budylon]]" {{c|mentioned}} 170201
**"[[Opposites Distract]]" 170401
**"[[Just the Ticket]]" 170402
**"[[All Thumbs]]" 170501
**"[[Kidonia (episode)|Kidonia]]" 170502
**"[[Pets and Pests]]" 170701
*[[Season 18]]
**"[[The Tattletale Frog]]" 180101
**"[[Whip. Mix. Blend.]]" 180601
**"[[Staycation]]" 180602
**"[[Two Minutes]]" 180701
**"[[Arthur Read: Super Saver]]" 180801
**"[[Tibbles to the Rescue]]" {{c|mentioned}} 180802
**"[[The Pageant Pickle]]" 180901
**"[[Some Assembly Required]]" 180902
**"[[Shelter from the Storm]]" 181000
*[[Season 19]]
**"[[One Ornery Critter]]" 190501
**"[[Maria Speaks]]" {{c|cameo}} 190601
**"[[Carl's Concerto]]" {{c|cameo}} 190701
*[[Season 20]]
**"[[Arthur and the Whole Truth]]" {{c|cameo}} 200102
**"[[He Said, He Said]]" 200301
**"[[Bunny Trouble]]" 200302
**"[[Lend Me Your Ear]]" 200501
**"[[Mutiny on the Pitch]]" 200602
*[[Season 21]]
**"[[Francine & the Soccer Spy]]" {{c|cameo}} 210301
**"[[Pal and the Big Itch]]" 210702
*[[Season 22]]
**"[[Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone]]" {{c|cameo}}
**"[[The Feud]]" {{c|cameo}}
**"[[The Longest Eleven Minutes]]" {{c|mentioned}}
**"[[Binky Can't Always Get What He Wants]]" {{c|cameo}}
**"[[Muffy's Car Campaign]]" {{c|cameo}}
*[[Season 23]]
**"[[When Duty Calls]]" {{c|cameo}}
**"[[D.W. and Dr. Whosit]]"
*[[Season 24]]
**[[Arthur's Big Meltdown]] (cameo)
}}

==Other media==
In the [[Living Books]] computer games, she had a light brown complexion and orange hair (and sometimes straight hair) in ''[[Arthur's Teacher Trouble (game)|Arthur's Teacher Trouble]]'' and a light complexion and light brown hair in ''[[Arthur's Birthday (game)|Arthur's Birthday]]''. It was likely due to color and tone restrictions during the 16-bit era of computers and software. In those two games, she was voiced by Jennifer Hewitt before the cartoon show replaced her with [[Sonja Ball]].

In the later games during the 32-bit era of computers and software such as ''[[Arthur's Thinking Games]]'', her appearance was the same as she looks in the cartoon show.

==Personality==
Jane is quite caring and loving to her three children. However, some of the time, she seems to be passively exasperated on a daily basis, because of the antics of her kids. She is a bit more strict than her husband, usually with D.W. as David is with Arthur. Arthur always refers to her as "Mom," but D.W. usually refers to her as "Mommy." She wants the best for her children, such as making sure they keep their rooms clean.

Jane is also the most talented at cleaning the house. She can sometimes be quite firm when Arthur and D.W. are frequently arguing and quarreling. She also doesn’t seem to mind D.W.’s bothering of Arthur, as she usually sighs and goes about her day whenever Arthur complains of D.W.’s tomfoolery.

Jane also may have a more greedy and self-absorbed side; this is shown when she fantasizes of one day escaping her family life to pursue personal interests in "[[Pick a Car, Any Car]]."

==Career==
David and Jane prefer to stay at home. This is made possible by [[Ed Crosswire]]. Both are hired by Ed, and would have to get new jobs if Ed canceled. As for Jane, Ed relies on her for accounting needs. Other busy moments are during tax season, but she does not like to work long hours. Her usual station is in the den and she wears casual attire while working. Some episodes she has worn professional attire and left for or returned from work at a large company. She rarely needs [[Thora Read|Thora]], [[Catherine Frensky]], or some other sitter since they are usually at home. The only three times they are needed are when David and Jane are sick, or are going to a social event with their friends, or when they need to concentrate on work so they ask Arthur and D.W. to stay with their friends or with Thora. Jane herself also babysits.<ref>"[[D.W. Gets Lost]]"</ref><ref>"[[Arthur the Wrecker]]"</ref><ref>"[[Arthur's Mystery Envelope]]"</ref><ref>"[[Is There a Doctor in the House?]]"</ref><ref>"[[Play it Again, D.W.]]"</ref><ref>"[[D.W.'s Name Game]]"</ref><ref>"[[Arthur's Almost Boring Day]]"</ref><ref>"[[I'd Rather Read It Myself]]"</ref>

==Trivia==
* In "[[Arthur's Eyes (episode)|Arthur's Eyes]]," the first Arthur spotted when looking at Jane with his new glasses, was that she had gray hairs.

==Gallery==
*[[Jane Read/Gallery]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Read family]]
[[Category:Aardvarks]]
[[Category:Adults]]
[[Category:Parents]]
[[Category:Female]]
[[Category:Brown hair]]
[[Category:Original Characters]]
[[Category:Work-at-home parents]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Main characters]]
[[Category:Sisters]]
[[Category:Stay-at-home parents]]