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Thora Read

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Grandma Thora
Age 60s[1]
Gender Female
Animal Aardvark
Birthday 18th of an unknown month with 31 days[2]
Hair color Medium brown (youth and adulthood)
Gray (elderly years)
Favorite color Green apple[3]
Residence Thora's childhood house (formerly)
Grandma Thora's House, Elwood City
Family Thora's father (father)
Thora's mother (mother)
Thora's brother 1 (brother)
Thora's brother 2 (brother)
Thora's brother 3 (brother)
David Read (son)
Jane Read (daughter-in-law)
Arthur Read (grandson)
D.W. Read (older granddaughter)
Kate Read (younger granddaughter)
Sean (son)
Bonnie (daughter-in-law)
George (grandson)
Bud (son-in-law)
Loretta (daughter)
Monique (granddaughter)
Ricky (grandson)
Loretta's daughter (granddaughter)
David's brother (son)
Minnie Read (daughter)
Thora's mother's great-uncle (great-granduncle)
Job Columnist[citation needed]
Book debut Arthur's Christmas
Cartoon debut "Arthur's Spelling Trubble"
Voiced by Joanna Noyes
Deb McGrath (TAP)
Michael Caloz (as a child)
Barbara Lawrence Webster (Arthur's Birthday game)
Ricia Lachman and Francine Scott (D.W. the Picky Eater (game))
Irene Mulderrig (Arthur's Kindergarten and 1st Grade)

Thora Read, commonly known as Grandma Thora, is the mother of David Read and his siblings as well as the paternal grandmother to their children, including Arthur, D.W., and Kate.

Biography

Thora grew up in Elwood City. Since the town was founded recently during her childhood, Thora has witnessed countless changes that had taken place over the years, so much that Arthur could not recognize it in the early photographs of Thora's childhood. Thora was able to cross the street guided by denizens, law enforcement, and Zeppelins. She remembers her parents were very polite and understanding. She has three older brothers that she was jealous of. Because they did not find any durable toys, Thora spent her early childhood without any of her own. She eventually was gifted Clarissa and developed a love for strawberries. The childhood version of Thora often has the same voice actor as D.W., such as Michael Caloz.

As a teenager, Thora attended Elwood City High School. She would regularly go to The Sugar Bowl to spend time with her friends, and would often talk with Carl Manino, who worked as a busboy in the restaurant.

Later, Thora had three sons and two daughters, but her marital status has always been unknown. She continued to stay in Elwood City during David's childhood. During this time, they got to watch Wonderworld get built, and a wildlife reserve cleared to build the nearby mall. She became a chaperone for her grandchildren [4][5] as well as a columnist.[6] She knows several workers at the elementary school. She also spent time with her mother at the family reunion.[7] After a while, Thora took in a dog named Killer[8] and a bat.[9]

Personality

During her days as a young girl, Thora, like D.W. had to endure the life of living alongside her older brothers. This came with some benefits, as it eventually convinced her prove to her mother that she can be just as independent and responsible like her brothers.

As a teen, Thora was very cheerful and outgoing, spending her time in the Sugar Bowl with her friends, and even insisting an otherwise shy Carl to dance alongside her while the music from the jukebox is playing.

Thora is shown to be very kind, supportive, and understanding. She is very active and is not able to effectively cook.[10][11] She will not hesitate to tell the truth about other people's mistakes, but at times speaks very softly.[12][13]

She often babysits for her son during their many parties and other catering events. Because D.W. took a nap earlier, she decided to let her stay up for New Year's Eve.[14] Arthur and D.W. rarely spend the night at Thora's. When they did, they saw how miserable she was, and threw her an annual surprise party.[15] Thora talked D.W. out of running away.[16] Thora is counted on for rescue.[17]

She loves to play Bingo and is an expert at Marbles.[18] She prefers to give her valuables as heirlooms. One example is Clarissa. In Family Fortune, she almost sells a treasured item at a travelling antique show instead.

She does not want to spend any time at a fancy restaurant if it means that her grandchildren might not be there.[19]

Physical appearance

Thora is an adult female aardvark with short, curly grey hair. She has black pupils. She is typically seen wearing a blue button-down coat with a yellow collar, lavender jeans, and blue and white sneakers.

When Thora was a child, she slightly resembled her granddaughter D.W. at a young age. She had brown hair worn in pigtails tied down with white scrunchies and wore a pink dress with a white collar.

During her teenage years, Thora wore her brown hair back in a ponytail and wore a blue high school jacket with a distinct A, and blue gown.

As a young adult during David's childhood, she still kept her ponytail back, but changed to wearing a light blue long sleeved shirt and khaki pants.[20].

Friends

  • Mrs. MacGrady: She plays Bingo and other activities with Mrs. MacGrady. Another time she worked with her at the bake sale.
  • Carl Manino: She knew Carl ever since they were teenagers.
  • Ted Glass: She has also been friends with Ted for a very long time.
  • Grace: Thora worked at her bake sale.
  • Mrs. Tibble

Appearances

Arthur

Specials

Trivia

  • She is named after author Marc Brown's own grandmother, Thora Brown.[21]
  • When she was a child, Thora had a close resemblance and voice to D.W. Read.
  • While her exact birthdate is never revealed, it's shown in "D.W., the Picky Eater" that Thora was apparently born on the 18th of a month with 31-days. This means that her birthday is in either January, March, May, July, August, October or December (all of which have 31-days).
  • In "April 9th," David explains that when he was Arthur's age, Thora got into a car accident (though she wasn't hurt). For a time afterwards, David feared that Thora would get into another car accident.
  • She originally is known to be a bad cook,[22][23] but in later episodes she has been shown to be cooking better.
  • In publicity/promotional materials, she is typically referred to as "Grandma Thora."
  • In "Clarissa is Cracked," it is revealed she is a columnist, and as a young little girl, she looks like D.W. her age and both sound like each other sharing the same voice actor Michael Caloz.
  • She was the one who gave Arthur his iconic yellow sweater.[24]
  • Thora's maiden name has never been revealed and it's never explained who her husband (the father of David and his siblings) was or if she was ever married or if she was divorced.
    • However given that her (paternal) Uncle Theo is a Read points to the evidence that Thora was born a Read.
  • In "Buster's Best Behavior," Thora doesn't appear in the episode herself, Arthur transforms into her during the episode intro after he stole D.W.'s TV time.
  • Starting with Season 20, the lenses of her eyeglasses are translucent and no longer colored white.

Gallery

The full image gallery for Thora Read may be viewed at Thora Read/Gallery.

References

  1. ↑ Arthur Read on Twitter. Twitter (April 29, 2020). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. “Grandma Thora is in her 60s. And Elwood City is in Pennsylvania”
  2. ↑ D.W., the Picky Eater
  3. ↑ trading Cards
  4. ↑ Arthur's Almost Boring Day.
  5. ↑ The Half-Baked Sale
  6. ↑ Clarissa is Cracked.
  7. ↑ Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe
  8. ↑ It Came From Beyond
  9. ↑ Bats in the Belfry
  10. ↑ The Half-Baked Sale
  11. ↑ Just Desserts.
  12. ↑ Arthur's Chicken Pox.
  13. ↑ Arthur Writes a Story.
  14. ↑ Arthur's New Year's Eve
  15. ↑ Grandma Thora Appreciation Day.
  16. ↑ D.W.'s Baby.
  17. ↑ Lost!.
  18. ↑ Arthur Loses His Marbles
  19. ↑ D.W., the Picky Eater
  20. ↑ April 9th
  21. ↑ https://www.wgbh.org/programs/2019/12/27/marc-brown-arthur-and-the-real-mr-ratburn-the-rewind
  22. ↑ "The Half-Baked Sale"
  23. ↑ "Just Desserts"
  24. ↑ "Go Fly a Kite"



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