The Arthur Podcast — “Arthur Writes a Story”

Host: Arthur Read (GBH & PBS Kids)
Date: January 22, 2026

Overview

In this delightful episode, Arthur Read wrestles with a classic homework assignment: writing an engaging story. Through playful banter with his sister DW and advice from friends like Buster and Francine, Arthur explores how stories can evolve—sometimes off the rails—when you try to please everyone. The episode is a fun, meta exploration of creativity, writer's block, and the importance of telling stories that matter to you.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Arthur’s Writer’s Block

• Arthur struggles to start his homework story and complains about constant interruptions from DW.
  • Quote (Arthur, 01:35):
    "How can I write when my sister keeps interrupting and when I don't even know where to start?"

2. Seeking Inspiration: Treehouse Brainstorm

• Arthur meets up with Buster and Francine, who are also having trouble with their stories.
• Francine pitches a familiar-sounding fairy tale, and Buster admits he’s barely started.
  • Quote (Francine, 02:13): "One is about a princess who has to give her baby to a troll if she can't guess the troll's name."
  • Quote (Buster, 02:01):
    "All I've got is my name at the top of the page."

3. Arthur’s First Attempt: The True Story of Pal

• Arthur writes a factual story about how he got his dog, Pal, but his friends find it boring.
  • Quote (Francine, 03:37): "Frankly, it's kind of short and boring."
  • Quote (Buster, 03:46): "I'd give it a two."
    "Two out of five?"
    "Two out of ten?"

4. Making the Story More Exciting... and Unhinged

• Urged to make his story more exciting, Arthur adds a baby elephant and then sets the story in outer space with dancing elephants, after suggestions from his friends.
  • Quote (Buster, 05:09): "All the best stories are set in outer space. That's where mine takes place."
  • Quote (DW, 08:31): "Don't forget about the love interest."

5. Further (Unhelpful) Advice and Frustration

• Every friend suggests a twist: dinosaurs, songs, love interests.
• Arthur becomes overwhelmed trying to please everyone and keep up with their wild ideas.
  • Quote (Arthur, 07:54): "Then I don't know what to write. What is something that everyone will like?"

6. Presentation Day: The Over-the-Top Song

• Arthur performs his story as a song in class, blending all his friends’ suggestions—elephants, outer space, and more.
  • Quote (Arthur, 09:33):
    [Sings…] "...Perky was in the closet having baby elephants. They danced on their toes. DW worried they'd break our spaceship. Mrs. Wood gave me a puppy to keep. And that was pretty neat."
• Mr. Ratburn is kind but asks Arthur whether the story was meaningful to him.
  • Quote (Mr. Ratburn, 10:07):
    "Was any of that meaningful to you?"

7. Learning to Tell Your Own Story

• Mr. Ratburn encourages Arthur to share his original, honest story instead of trying to impress others.
  • Quote (Mr. Ratburn, 10:41): "Don't worry about what people think or what you think they want to hear. Just tell your story the way it means the most to you."

8. Arthur’s True Story

• Arthur finally tells the heartfelt and slightly chaotic true version: wanting a dog, struggling to prove he’s responsible, losing Mrs. Wood’s difficult pet Perky, and finally adopting Pal after Perky surprises everyone with puppies.
  • Quote (Arthur, 12:32): "Good guess, but no. It was Perky hiding out in our closet and having puppies. Mrs. Wood was so relieved, she gave me one of the puppies to keep. And that puppy was Pal, my dog. And the best friend forever and ever."
• The class and Mr. Ratburn all cheer Arthur’s story, and he earns a sticker for telling it honestly, with a good beginning, middle, and end.
  • Quote (Mr. Ratburn, 13:04): "I think we all enjoyed it. In fact, you deserve a sticker for telling it so well. With a beginning, middle and end. Bravo."

9. DW’s Unsolicited Feedback

• DW insists: the story would have been better if she were a princess with three kitties and a magic wand.
  • Quote (DW, 13:35): "It wasn't bad, but it would have been way better with… three little kitties, where we live in a castle and I have a magic wand and turn you into a troll."

Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• Arthur, Frustrated by Distractions (01:35): "How can I write when my sister keeps interrupting and when I don't even know where to start?"
• Francine Offers Critique (03:37): "Frankly, it's kind of short and boring."
• Buster Rates Arthur's First Draft (03:46): "I'd give it a two."
• DW’s “Add a Love Interest” (08:31): "Every good story has a part where two characters fall in love."
• Arthur’s Epic Song (09:33): Sings his mish-mash of story ideas in front of the class
• Mr. Ratburn’s Key Lesson (10:41): "Don't worry about what people think or what you think they want to hear. Just tell your story the way it means the most to you."
• Arthur’s Real Story, Revealed (12:32): "It was Perky hiding out in our closet and having puppies. Mrs. Wood was so relieved, she gave me one of the puppies to keep. And that puppy was Pal, my dog. And the best friend forever and ever."
• Mr. Ratburn’s Sticker of Approval (13:04): "I think we all enjoyed it. In fact, you deserve a sticker for telling it so well. With a beginning, middle and end. Bravo."

Fun Side Segment: Dear DW (13:54–14:55)

• DW answers kid mail with her trademark sass:
  • Wants a snail as a pet because “they smell better than dogs and you don’t have to walk them.” (14:08)
  • Misinterprets a question about 401(k)s: “O isn’t even a number. It’s a letter. And K, that’s not a number either.” (14:27)

Important Timestamps

• Writer's block & DW distractions: 00:44–01:41
• Brainstorming with friends: 01:47–03:20
• Arthur's first draft & critiques: 03:37–03:53
• Making story outrageous (elephants, outer space): 04:17–08:02
• Class presentation ("the song") & Mr. Ratburn’s advice: 09:02–10:48
• Arthur’s heartfelt, original story: 10:53–13:14
• DW’s feedback, “Dear DW” segment: 13:35–14:55

Episode Takeaway

This episode cleverly illustrates how trying to satisfy all opinions can twist your story out of shape, and that authenticity—telling the story that matters to you—is most meaningful.
Arthur’s journey through writer’s block, wild suggestions from friends, and his ultimate realization is a fun and relatable adventure for creative kids (and grown-ups too).