Locked in the Library! (book)

This article is about the book. You may be looking for the episode.

Locked in the Library! (book)
Author	*Marc Brown (cover credit) Stephen Krensky (ghostwriter) Based on the teleplay by Kathy Waugh
Illustrator	Marc Brown
Publication date	June 1, 1998
Published by	Little, Brown and Company
ISBN	0316115576
Publication order
Preceded by Arthur Accused!	Followed by Buster's Dino Dilemma

Locked in the Library! is an Arthur chapter book based on the episode "Locked in the Library!" in which Arthur and Francine are trapped in the Elwood City Library after-hours. In 2012,^{[citation needed]} it was retitled as Arthur: Locked in the Library with all the other chapter books being re-published.

Differences from the episode

• The scene where Arthur recalls meeting Francine is removed in the book.
• In the book, Francine says "Arthur! Arthur Read!" In the episode, she just says "Arthur Read!"
• In the book, Arthur asks "I did?" In the episode, he stammers until Buster interrupts.
• In the book, the sweater is described as "puff[ing] up everywhere" and "ha[ving] padded shoulders and wool that fluffed out like frosting."
• In the book, Francine tells Arthur to "say you're sorry" instead of "apologize."
• In the book, after Francine threatens Arthur, Buster defends him. Francine, Muffy, and Sue Ellen ignore him and Buster says "I guess we told them" and that Arthur "doesn't have to thank" him, as Arthur sighs.
• In the book, in class, Arthur gets upset at Buster for "talk[ing] so tough." Buster argues he was standing up for Arthur, and Arthur says he can do that himself.
• In the book, Mr. Ratburn is less sarcastic while telling Buster to sit down.
• In the book, Mr. Ratburn says "Are people born brave and generous, or do they become this way later on?" instead of "Are you born with these characteristics, or are they something you develop?"
• In the book, the class wonders if Mr. Ratburn is asking a rhetorical question or talking to himself.
• In the book, Arthur and Buster talk about heroes as they go home from school, such as Robin Hood, Hercules, and Bionic Bunny. Arthur says he likes heroes because he could never do most of what they do, and asks Buster if heroes ever "call their friends a marshmallow." Buster says that if they do, they do not worry about it later.
• In the book, D.W. tells Francine that Arthur looks like "a soggy dumpling" in his pajamas.
• In the book, Arthur is surprised that Francine was offended by her insult. D.W. argues that marshmallows are good to eat instead of look like. Arthur asks how he and Francine are supposed to work if she does not speak to him, and D.W. responds, "You should have thought of that before you started calling people names."
• In the book, Arthur plays with Pal and is nearly late to meeting Francine at the library.
• In the book, Arthur and Francine argue while at the library desk. Francine looks at the biographies and Arthur goes to the medieval French history section. Arthur imagines himself and Buster in the book while he reads it, and Francine listens to music on a Walkman.
• In the book, Francine accidentally knocks over a stack of books before she finds Arthur, scaring him.
• In the book, Francine does not mention her ears ringing after falling.
• In the book, Arthur and Francine say "PHONE!" In the episode, they say "THE TELEPHONE!"
• In the book, Muffy does not talk on the phone for very long and mentions that she "hear[s] the bell for dinner" before hanging up.
• In the book, after Francine dials the phone, she shouts "User codes! Passwords! What's the world coming to, anyways?"
• In the book, Arthur spits out the page of the book in disgust. After he hears a noise, he is startled, but then wonders if the picture of mashed potatoes and gravy tastes better.
• In the book, Arthur and Francine talk about the horror movie.
• In the book, Arthur and Francine's conversation in the staff room is different.
• In the book, Binky says that he thinks characters in books come out after the library is closed.
• In the book, while talking in front of the class, Arthur says that he picked Joan of Arc. In the book, he says that he "didn't get to do a real report."
• In the book, Mr. Ratburn gives Arthur and Francine until tomorrow for their report. In the episode, he gives them until next weekend.
• In the book, Arthur says that Francine is a good friend, "but nobody's perfect." In the episode, he says "most of the time."

Cover gallery

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  Original cover

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  Paperback reissue