"Arthur: D.W. Blows the Whistle" DVD Review

Based on Marc Brown’s best-selling children’s books, the Arthur TV show and DVDs depict the life and times of Arthur and his fun-loving family of Aardvarks. “D.W. Blows the whistle” features three Arthur adventures which focus on his four-year-old sister, D.W.:

• “D.W. Blows the Whistle”
• “D.W. Bad Mood”
• “D.W. Name Game”

In general, the stated goal of the “Arthur show is to help foster an interest in reading and writing, and to encourage positive social skills. The episodes in the “D.W. Blows the Whistle” DVD work to together to teach children the importance of being a good friend and sibling.

The Arthur series has won several awards including the George Foster Peabody, and for good reason. Arthur presents issues and situations kids can relate to, and teaches positive behaviors and responses to these issues in a genuine and comical way.

In “D.W. Blows the Whistle,” the three adventures resolve problems with tattletaling and name-calling. In addition, “D.W. Bad Mood” is especially sweet, when Arthur’s friend, Francine, cares enough to delve into the underlying reasons why D.W. has been acting out of sorts.

As the show tries to convey real life situations, the adventures do contain imitative behavior such as bickering and name calling. For example, in “D.W. Name Game,” D.W. and Arthur get into and insult war, each attempting to call the other the wittier name, and Francine also calls D.W. a “doofus.” While children may mimic some of these tactics, the show provides a good springboard for parents to talk about the issues with their children and point out the importance of considering others’ feelings.

• Instant and Continuous Play

In reviewing the Arthur DVDs, I was able to speak with Kim Brown, Marc Brown’s sister and the inspiration behind D.W., she was able to give me the following insights and ideas for helping kids get even more out of the “Arthur” show:

• Many of the characters and situations in the “Arthur” books and shows are based on real life people and events in creator Marc Brown’s life. D.W. was modeled after Kim Brown, and they really do have a Grandma Thora! Encourage your kids to write a story of their own and read it to the family.
• Marc Brown and his sister Kim are both talented and creative. Their real Grandma Thora was instrumental in helping them by encouraging them and saving their artwork, which made them feel special.
• Because children love the Arthur television shows, they also get excited about reading the books, so parents can encourage children to read by introducing kids to the books as well as the show.
• While on tour, Kim Brown teaches kids how to draw Arthur. You can find the 7 step method for drawing Arthur on the official website.

*In addition to drawing Arthur, PBS Kids' Arthur website offers games, coloring pages, parent information, and more.