The Ratburn Wedding": A Creative Twist By Marc Brow

Marc Brown is the Emmy-winning author and illustrator of the Arthur book series, which was adapted into a TV series in 1996. The season 22 premiere of the show, titled 'Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone', caused a sensation by revealing that the character Mr. Ratburn is gay. The episode ends with the wedding of Mr. Ratburn to Patrick, a male aardvark, and drew praise from many on social media for its inclusion of an LGBT character and the children's no big deal reaction. Brown has stated that he is really proud of the episode and that he wanted to tell an honest story for children and families.

Marc Brown is the creator of Arthur

The first book in the Arthur series, Arthur's Nose, was published in 1976. In it, readers were introduced to Arthur, an anxious but lovable aardvark having a crisis of confidence. Brown has said that Arthur "feels real to kids" because he has no superpowers, makes mistakes, and sometimes needs help from his family and friends. The Arthur books have tackled a range of nuanced topics, including bullying, learning disabilities, climate change, and gay marriage, reflecting Brown's mission to show kids the power of reading and books and to present a world in which they can see themselves.

In 1996, the Arthur books were adapted into a television series, which ran for nearly 25 years and ended on February 21, 2022. Brown served as an executive producer on the show and wrote and illustrated the books on which the series was based. The animated adaptation featured Arthur, an 8-year-old bespectacled aardvark, and his friends as they navigated difficult subjects like bullying, divorce, and disability. The series won seven Emmy Awards and was praised by both children and parents for its candour in depicting challenging situations.

In addition to the Arthur series, Brown has written and illustrated several other children's books, including "One, Two, Three: An Animal Counting Book", "Your First Garden Book", and "Perfect Pigs: An Introduction to Manners". He has also illustrated books written by other authors, such as "What Makes the Sun Shine?" by Isaac Asimov and "The Iron Lion" by Peter Dickinson. Brown's work has had a significant impact on children's literature and media, with his characters and stories reflecting important issues and experiences from the real world.

Mr Ratburn's wedding was in season 22 of Arthur

Mr. Ratburn's wedding was featured in the season 22 premiere of the long-running children's show, Arthur. The episode, titled "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone," saw the beloved elementary school teacher marry another man, a local chocolatier named Patrick. The nuptials came as a surprise to Arthur and his friends, who initially tried to derail the wedding due to a case of mistaken identity. They believed Mr. Ratburn was engaged to a bossy stranger named Patty, only to discover at the wedding ceremony that Patty was his sister, not his fiancée.

The inclusion of an LGBT character and the children's "no big deal" reaction within the episode drew widespread praise and congratulations from fans and LGBTQ media advocacy groups, such as GLAAD, on social media. Many celebrated the show's courageous and explicit portrayal of LGBTQ lives and storylines, with some comparing it favourably to other popular franchises, such as Avengers: Endgame.

The wedding episode of Mr. Ratburn was not the first time the Arthur series had featured LGBT characters or storylines. In 2005, the spinoff show "Postcards from Buster" included a lesbian couple in Vermont during the episode "Sugartime!". However, this episode sparked criticism from the then-Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, which led to it being pulled from PBS. Despite this earlier controversy, the positive response to Mr. Ratburn's wedding in season 22 highlights the changing norms and increasing acceptance of LGBTQ representation in children's television.

The Arthur series is based on the Arthur book series written and illustrated by Marc Brown. Brown is also the creator of the animated series and served as an executive producer for seasons 10 through 25. He has expressed his support for telling an honest story for children and families and reflecting the diversity of communities through PBS KIDS programs.

Mr Ratburn's husband is an aardvark named Patrick

The premiere episode of season 22 of the beloved children's show, Arthur, saw the long-time character Mr. Ratburn get married. Mr. Ratburn, Arthur's wise third-grade teacher, marries an aardvark named Patrick. Patrick is a chocolatier in Elwood City, with a shop called Patrick's Chocolates.

In the episode, Arthur and his friends worry that Mr. Ratburn is engaged to a bossy stranger named Patty. However, at the wedding, they discover that Patty is not Mr. Ratburn's fiancé, but his sister. Instead, Mr. Ratburn marries Patrick, revealing that their teacher is gay.

The episode, titled "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone", received a positive response on social media, with many congratulating the teacher on his wedding. The inclusion of an LGBTQ+ character and the children's accepting attitude within the episode were praised.

The show's creator, Marc Brown, said he wanted to tell an honest story for children and families and that art reflects life. Brown also created the Arthur book series, which the animated series is based on. He has published over forty Arthur books, with the first one, Arthur's Nose, published in 1976.

Mr Ratburn is Arthur's third-grade teacher

Despite his stern reputation, Mr Ratburn is often friendly, helpful, and good-natured, showing that he truly cares about his students. He has many hobbies outside the classroom, including puppetry, bird-watching, performing magic tricks, and playing in a rock band. He is also a basketball coach and works on the school newspaper. Mr Ratburn is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids.

In the season 22 premiere of the "Arthur" TV show, Mr Ratburn's wedding to a local chocolatier named Patrick caused a sensation on social media. The episode revealed that the character was gay, and it was praised for its inclusion of an LGBT character as well as the children's "no big deal" reaction to the wedding.

Marc Brown is an American author and illustrator of children's books

Brown was born on November 25, 1946, in Erie, Pennsylvania, and grew up with his three sisters and grandmother, Thora, who told him many stories, inspiring him to write his own in later life. Brown's grandmother also encouraged his affinity for drawing, which he discovered at age six. While attending high school, his art teacher, Nancy Bryan, introduced him to watercolours, which he now uses for most of his illustrations. After graduating, Brown presented a sample of his drawings to the publishing company Houghton Mifflin, who offered him a deal that allowed him to pursue illustrating as a career.

Brown published the first book in the Arthur series, Arthur's Nose, in 1976. He has since published over forty Arthur books, seven audiobooks, and two beginner books. The Arthur series has proven hugely successful, with more than 65 million Arthur books sold in the United States alone. The books were adapted into a television series that aired on PBS from 1996 to 2022 and was ranked number one on the network for three years.

In addition to his work on the Arthur series, Brown has illustrated and co-authored several other children's books. He illustrated Isaac Asimov's What Makes the Sun Shine? and co-authored Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families with his wife, Laurene Krasny Brown, which won a notable book citation from The New York Times. Brown has said that he wants his work to reflect the diversity of the real world and help children navigate various situations and topics, such as bullying, first sleepovers, and new pets.

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