Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur

by Marc Brown

As the award-winning Arthur TV series reaches its twenty-fifth anniversary, what better way to celebrate America's favorite aardvark than this collection of life lessons perfect for graduations and other milestones!

Join Arthur and his friends as they share the funniest and most heartfelt moments from the longest running children's television show in US history and classic book series created by master storyteller Marc Brown. This treasure trove of quotes and life lessons is divided into five sections that will inspire readers of all ages to listen to their hearts, work together, have an original point of view, and most of all, to believe in themselves!

Featuring over 60 pieces of all-new artwork, here is a keepsake perfect for superfans young and old—as well as the next generation being introduced to this beloved character.

 

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Animals

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Marc Tolon Brown is perhaps best known for his series of children's books about Arthur the aardvark, which was turned into an animated television show on PBS. Brown is a three-time Emmy Award winner, for his role on the television show inspired by his books.

He lives on Martha's Vineyard and in New York City with his wife, Laurie Krasny Brown. He has three children, sons Tolon and Tucker, and daughter Eliza. The names of his two sons have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one: Arthur's Tooth.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in 2005, our school was celebrating Poetry Week. The students were encouraged to write someone famous and ask for their favorite poem. My 1st grader wrote to Marc Brown. In return he got a poem, a letter, and a copy of one of the Arthur books. This mama's heart is still warm from that kind gesture. Loved this little book and the trip down memory lane of Arthur's stories. Includes themes, illustrations, and D.W. quotes.

[Andrew Dittmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 February 2022
Well this was devastating.

That said, there is a factual error. One quote/scene is mislabeled. (Trust me, I know the Arthur Backstreet Boys special by heart.)


I'm torn between two reactions here: I AM SO ****ING READY or DON'T YOU ****ING DO THIS TO ME, MARC BROWN AND PBS.

So here we are.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, Arthur.

I didn't have cable growing up, so I was 100% a PBS kid. My mom says I started watching Arthur when I was three and it was the show I always asked for. To say I become a little obsessed with Arthur might have been an understatement. I had the books, VHS tapes, a t-shirt, a book bag, and even a plush Arthur. Arthur and I both wore glasses, took piano lessons, loved to read and visit the library, and we both even had chicken pox at one point. I remember being super excited to enter the 3rd grade and turn eight years old because I was finally as old as my buddy Arthur. But of course, I got older and Arthur didn't (not for a long while, anyways). While I outgrew most of the PBS shows I enjoyed as a kid, Arthur was the one show I could still come back to and enjoy.

Now that Arthur has wrapped up twenty-five years later, this book comes along to invoke even more Arthur nostalgia. Using quotes from various Arthur books and the TV shows/specials, Marc Brown shares some life lessons readers can take away from our favorite aardvark. There's also a synopsis of how Arthur came to be a favorite story and TV show as well. So, while the show may have wrapped up, Arthur's adventures and lessons will always be there to help us learn how to make things better by working together so we can have a wonderful kind of day :)

[fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who wanted PBS to be defunded and censor media needs to read this book. This is what PBS is teaching- they want children to grow up with empathy and compassion for the world around them. I am so happy to have grown up a PBS kid and Arthur fan <3

[Rebecca Wilden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m crying 😭❤️ Card-carrying member of the Arthur Fan Club here. Arthur has meant so much to me since childhood and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have met Marc Brown. This book is a gift ❤️

[Meg Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hug I didn't know I needed... PBS was the main television network I watched growing up, and as a student in the early 2000s, my teachers loved to use almost any book about Arthur and friends as a read aloud. As I've grown into a library fanatic, I proudly had an Arthur/library card bumper sticker on my back windshield for several years. In the afterward of this beautiful book, Marc Brown states that "most people grow out of their childhood; I grew back into mine when I started making books." I never want to grow out of loving Arthur or his message.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I read this while in the midst of a 6 day Arthur mega marathon stream that will conclude with the final episodes of its last season after 25 years, so I'm a bit emotional right now. When the show first aired I was 4 years old (D.W.'s age), and I remember I couldn't wait to turn 8 like Arthur and his friends so that I could ride my bike all over town without my parents. Aside from that unrealistic expectation, I found Arthur to be a pretty relatable series that I've returned to many times as I grew up.

This book is like a highlight reel of teachable moments from the books and TV show, so it's a major dose of nostalgia for Millennials and some Gen Z kids as well (and maybe their parents?). It's also cool to get a behind-the-scenes look at Marc Brown's experience creating the book series that then became the longest-running animated children's show in history.

I'll stop now before I tear up.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing less than 5 stars for the man and the aardvark who forever influenced my childhood and life.

[Rachel Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should have been ready for the heavy dose of nostalgia and I was *not* - the quotes and artwork from the original stories brought me so vividly back to my early childhood it felt like time travel❤️ Looking back, this series, both tv and books, tackled topics that are still so on point even today. Arthur has stood the test of a quarter century and I’m pretty sure it will still be standing in the decades to come.

[Sarah Woolworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book for anybody who grew up with Arthur and for anybody who has kids and want to either introduce them to Arthur or give them more Arthur. It's a book of quotes and lessons from the many seasons of the show over the 25 years It's been on.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

For context I am a huge Arthur fan, I have been one all my life, as the show is clearly written with the intent to be enjoyed by all ages. I picked this book up during a book signing in nyc Marc did today with R.l Stine, of al people. I mostly came for Marc as I unironically love his illustrations in his books and he’s one of my favorite artists. So I got him to sign my book. Can I just say, after hearing the man speak on his inspirations and joys and having him sign my book, the man is a true delight very kind hearted and sweet, akin to Mr Rodgers who was one of his greatest inspirations and cited as one of the most wonderful people he ever met.

It might seem crazy to go off on Marc browns life instead of talking about this book, but the truth of it is, is that this book is simply a love letter and goodby to Arthur and Marc browns journey with the books, so to honor Marc it’s only fair to give my thoughts on him.

This book acts as the last Arthur book in the series giving a send off both to the illustrated books, and the TV show which both ended off when this book was made. The book highlights some of the best moments of both the show and books and talks about the important messages both young and old viewers can find in Arthur, while also making sure to quote some of the most savage and memed lines from the show, because Marc knows the show is also famous for its memes as well as it’s themes.

Even if your not an Arthur fan this book is important to own for any aspiring writer/illustrator artist. First of all Marc’s art style is instantly detailed. He did all of the illustrations in this book using watercolor and ink pens, traditionally, and just from the book cover alone you can tell he has insane control with watercolor and a knack for detail with it that isn’t easy to achieve! Some of the details in the book are insane, and the characters look even cuter drawn by Marc himself then they do in the show! Not to mention this book talks about every important issue Arthur has ever tackled so if your looking to get into the show and learn a thing or two about how children’s media can and should hit just as close to home as media for adults this book acts as a wonderful introductory, and a wonderful closing on this chapter of Marc browns life, it’s the closet we may ever get to an “art of Arthur.” Book and I love it!

In conclusion you need to get your hands on this book Arthur fan or not, it’s got something for anyone who’s a writer or artist to appreciate and it was made by a man with a heart of gold, who did so much to be inclusive to all with his kids show. Thank you Marc brown, and thank you for reading my review the whole way through fellow good reader users.

Note: I will add some quotes are mislabeled for episodes, but the code message is still beautiful and this books intent is to honor Arthur not nitpick Arthur lore and accuracy, even the show got some of its lore wrong but still as Marc brown mentioned in this, tried to remain as true to the lore as possible as Marc knows both kids and adults will catch him if he slips on the lore, and even in this comment section we have, so he’d right, but it does not detract from the books overall intent, message, themes and art!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a nice touch to wrap up the series... but man, if I had written it, it would have been so much better! For one, I found a general bias in the "lessons," and the show has reflected these ideas in recent episodes. I thought the quote section ended really randomly before diving into Marc Brown's reflections at the end. But I adored all the D.W. quotes! She is truly hilarious!

Another thing that bothered me was that the episodes listed under the quotes were often incorrect. Just ask me: I know the t.v. series inside and out, and while I admit I haven't read all of the Arthur Adventure books and it's possible the lines were moved around the t.v. show episodes, there was an inconsistency among t.v. episodes versus books.

Yes, I'm frustrated the show is over. Yes, I feel like my childhood has been abruptly obliterated. Luckily I'm stuck in stage 4 of grief: compromise. "Well, self," I say, "the newer episodes are not as good, and they will never top "The Contest/Prove It" or "The Blizzard/The Rat Who Came to Dinner.""

One of my favourite quotes comes from Sue Ellen: "So much has happened since April 9. I never want to go through another fire. But I also never want to lose this feeling that each day is special and that if my friends and I stick together, we can make it through just about anything."

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Believe in yourself, for that’s the place to start!”—Ziggy Marley

I was first introduced to Arthur Read when I was in elementary school and I read his books with my parents. When I got glasses, I turned to Arthur. I had big, circular glasses just like him. Arthur, along with many others in my life, taught me it was okay to be myself.
When Arthur became a TV show, I was ten. We didn’t have cable, so we watched pretty much every show on PBS. But for my sister and I, Arthur was one of best shows—along with Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Why? All those shows told the truth. They talked about real-world things and stuff kids like me dealt with. They were never preachy, never talked down to us, always entertaining.
Like Arthur’s books and TV show, this book is choc full of insight and inspiration about all sorts of things. Arthur did indeed teach us so much…and there’s more I need to learn. Maybe I’ll go turn on a couple episodes I missed! ;)

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last Arthur book. I certainly didn’t know Fred Rogers was one of the first guests on the TV show! This is the end of an era: no more Arthur stories. He says he’s not done and has more projects. It will be great to see what is ahead. Maybe if more kids and adults listened to Arthur and his friends and families, we’d have fewer problems as adults. Maybe if people let kids be kids, we would grow up to respect more and kill less. Sorry, the Texas school shooting just happened: I don’t think Arthur ever covered what to do when grownups won’t do the only thing that will help.

[Emily Killmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

(ok no judgment please, my mom bought me this as an early birthday gift and she is the only one who knows how deep my obsession with "Arthur" is)

holy smokes, this is going straight to my classroom bookshelves (once I have a job, that is). was just the right amount of closure I needed since the series came to an end this past February. a perfect little bow on the end of my comfort tv show <3

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

approved by both me, the reader born the same year the pbs show aired, and my cousin's cat, who excitedly headbutt the book multiple times (even if we both think they got francine's drumming episode wrong) 🥰

[molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

yeah i cried

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many memories in this short book. Brown captures the way Arthur has always faced social issues and tackled hard topics in the books and TV show. We can all learn a lot from an aardvark.
Terrific to reflect on each page's reference and message. Plenty of nostalgia for those who grew up or had children grow up with Arthur.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad Arthur is ending, it was such a big part of my childhood! But loved reading this quick little book about all the things the show has taught us. :)

[Rachel Newlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on Arthur, the show came out a couple years before I was born and some of my earliest memories are watching Arthur. I actually met Marc Brown when I was working at a bookstore in 2017, and I burst into tears because I couldn’t believe I was meeting the man who created my childhood! He is the sweetest and most talented man. My college graduation cap last year has DW on it, and my phone is full of Arthur memes. That said, it was so hard to see that Arthur was ending (although I loved seeing what all the characters do in the end)! This book was such a beautiful way to reflect on Arthur books and episodes, to relive my childhood as I embark on my young adulthood.

[Rebecca Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ADORED Arthur Books and the TV series as a child (and even now)! It was like a warm hug and quite comedic as well, with the iconic “having fun isn’t hard without a library card” song!

This book is the perfect send-off to the end of the books and TV series, it’ll give you all the feels and make you nostalgic to turn your tv to PBS kids.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I understand that Arthur was originally intended for children aged kids, because this book was, in a way, meant to commemorate the end of this iconic era, I wish that it would've been written for a more mature audience—for the generation that grew up with Arthur.

That said, I enjoyed taking a stroll through memory lane. What I loved most about the world of Arthur (aside from DW's iconic one liners) is that it is inclusive of characters from different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, abilities, family types, etc. Aside from the kids, I loved the diverse representation of adults on the show: single parents, diverse career paths, etc.

I also love that Arthur tackled a lot of hard topics like: natural disasters, mental illnesses, racism, loss, supporting a loved one as they navigate things like cancer and Alzheimers, etc. Things we sometimes forget as adults that no matter how much we try to protect children from, they inevitably will experience, too.

Thank you, Marc Brown, for an incredible journey. Oh what fun it was to grow up with Arthur and friends! ♥️

"There's a magic that happens in that space between us and the pages of a book or on screen where imagination and real life can merge in a transformative way. My friend Fred Rogers called it sacred. He said we can do a lot with that space, where truth is of paramount importance."

[Lisa Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generations of people have read, watched, and loved Arthur Read and his friends over the past 45 years. With the Arthur television show ending after 25 years, the small collector's tome synthesizes just some of the nuggets of wisdom and life lessons Arthur has taught us through the years. It's a diversionary book for the casual reader, but a must-read for the millions of Arthur fans around the world. The word usage is a bit complex, so kids will need help with the vocabulary, but, if Arthur has taught us anything, it's that we won't learn unless we try.

[MaryAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing summing up of a portion of a life's work, Arthur and all of his venues of story telling. And also, the author's journey, his insights and.lessons learned from his creation and creative process.

I was especially impressed with his acknowledgements - the detailed listing of the many people who he worked with along the way on the many different projects all in service to children and the child that still resides in all of us.

Now I am off to read Arthur and to try to catch his TV show - the longest running animated program for children.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I raised my kids on Arthur the Aarvark. This book by Marc Brown is intensely satisfying. It's a nostalgic trip down the lane of favorite episodes and favorite books and favorite moments. Between Mr. Rogers and Marc Brown, our kids' needs were covered. Thank you for all of the fun, the humor and the non pedantic lessons.

[Malissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this!!! I'm 34 and grew up on Arthur and his friends in the books and the tv show. I read the books to my daughters today and still watch the show. I will watch the show by myself, I love it sooo much! If you're an Arthur fan like I am you will love this and all the nostalgia it brings with every page.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely wonderful little book! I grew up reading Arthur books and still watch (and quote) the show, so this feels very much like a sort of closure: sweet, of course, for all the memories it conjures, but bitter as well, for with the memories come the knowledge that, though the journey may be retrod, it has reached its end.

[Mackenzie Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute look back at some of the best advice given from a childhood favorite and how we can still learn from these things as adults. I had the pleasure to meet the man behind the Arthur franchise, Marc Brown, and he is lovely. I appreciate his commitment to the characters and the story after all these years.

[Mellen Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored reminiscing about Arthur and his friends. As a parent, I let my children watch this show on PBS and reading the book brought back all the ways I loved how Arthur tackled big topics in life.

Excellent way to capture the joy of the books, show, and how to still carry Arthur in your heart.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially loved the end papers! I heard Marc Brown speak early in my career as an elementary school librarian. He mentioned that he "hid" the names of his children in the illustrations. Every year, when I told my first graders, I'd hear " I found it! " ring out across the library.