D.W. the Picky Eater

D.W. the Picky Eater
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Released	December 28, 1998
Characters	Arthur, D.W.
Language	English
Pages	10
Previous	Arthur's Computer Adventure

D.W. the Picky Eater is the eighteenth and final Living Books CD-ROM based on the 1995 storybook written by Marc Brown, and the PC CD-Rom was released in December 28, 1998. It is also the 5th and final Arthur Living Books game (after Arthur's Teacher Trouble, Arthur's Birthday, Arthur's Reading Race, and Arthur's Computer Adventure).

Plot[]

D.W. is established as a picky eater, as the title states; she refuses to try anything, and when she does eat, she prefers it in very specific ways. The only foods she ate (as a picky eater) would be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and plain spaghetti (for main course foods).

The story first starts with D.W, her brother Arthur, and Mrs. Read (their mother) in the kitchen, unloading the groceries.

On Sunday, while D.W (and her brother Arthur) were helping their mother unloading the groceries, D.W saw a packet of fish (trout) and said she is not willing to try any new foods. D.W. holds the fish, to which she is disgusted. Mrs. Read tells D.W. that she has never even tried it, but D.W. whines, "It's looking at me!". Then, she tells herself that in more than anything else in the whole world, she especially hates spinach. Arthur (after D.W. says this) takes note that she is a picky eater.

On Thursday, at dinner with the family, there is Hawaiian shrimp (breaded Hawaiian shrimp) for dinner, where D.W. simply pretends to try it by feeding it to the family's dog, Pal. However, Arthur finds that absurd and says to D.W., "I wouldn't do that if I were you".

On Friday, D.W. is at her friend Emily's house, where they are having spaghetti. She doesn't want any spaghetti sauce on hers. Her values work at one point (she had Hawaiian shrimp for dinner on Thursday; she went to Emily's house for dinner on Friday and had spaghetti).

D.W's values to stay away from spinach work for the first six days (Sunday through Friday). However, on Saturday when D.W and her family went out to dinner, the salad is contained with spinach. D.W. (when she finds the leafy green vegetables not lettuce but spinach) refuses to eat spinach. Her mother Jane says, "Just try it". Arthur warns that D.W might have a tantrum. Then her father David begs, "Please try it". She still refuses, and then screams out her hatred towards spinach by yelling, “I HATE SPINACH!”. After saying that, she pounds her fists on the table and the salad dish. The salad spills out its contents. This embarrasses her whole family. Her mother sighs, "I'm so embarrassed!". Her father scolds her and snaps, "No more restaurants for you!". Arthur (when clicked on) sighs, "Well, so much for dinner!". D.W. is forbidden from any more restaurants until she learns to cooperate and eat what is placed in front of her.

The next week is Grandma Thora's birthday, though D.W. will not be allowed to join, as Grandma Thora's birthday at "Once Upon a Restaurant" is part of D.W.'s punishment.

Until D.W. learns from her mistake, D.W.'s family goes out to dinner without her and she is forced (and meant) to stay home with a babysitter named Mrs. Cross. She is friendly but also quite strict (and "cross" --hence her name). Mrs. Cross only allowed D.W to have carrot sticks for night snacks. Then at night (exactly 8:00) she tells D.W. it is time for bed (saying, "Bedtime. Now march, quick like a bunny!").

These babysitter values go well (even though D.W. is still not allowed to go to any restaurants until she learns her lesson). At breakfast, Arthur twirls a tiny paper umbrella. D.W. demands where Arthur got it from. And he says, "At the Chinese restaurant". Meanwhile, she begins to wonder what she has been missing (probably a tiny paper umbrella, as Arthur finds them fun).

However, this is only the beginning of D.W.'s "desire" to be released from being grounded from going out to dinner. The next week, there are soon plans to go out for Grandma Thora's birthday party (as Mrs. Read announces it as their big night out). D.W. takes note of that and demands to end the grounding, saying she wants to go too. Her family agrees with that, but only if she can eat what's on the menu. As a result, Mr. and Mrs. Read end D.W.'s punishment of restaurants and let her join them to Grandma Thora's birthday (even when D.W. promises to try new foods --along with being green and looking like leaves-- which Arthur asks).

Everyone gets dressed up Saturday night. Part of D.W.'s fancy clothes is the shoes with the bows, although they pinch her toes. As such, the restaurant they go to is a fancy restaurant, which is called "Once Upon a Restaurant". Arthur and D.W then wish Grandma Thora a "Happy Birthday". After that, D.W prays, "I hope they have plain spaghetti" (trying to whisper that comment to her mind). However, Arthur, Mother, and Father still hope D.W. tries new foods. D.W. (even though she still hopes the restaurant has peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or plain spaghetti), says to herself, "Oh, yeah".

D.W. feels happy when she sits in her chair and thinks to herself, "No one will see me if I have to get rid of something disgusting!".

Then a waiter appears, whose name is Richard. He then offers a booster seat for D.W., who questions him if there are any foods with paper umbrellas on them. Richard tells them that there aren't. Finally, D.W. (looking at the menu) orders a dish called the Little Bo Peep Pot Pie.

When dinner is served, all eyes are on D.W.. To everyone's surprise, she takes a bite from her Little Bo Peep Pot Pie and loves it. She then eats a second piece and quickly eats the entire thing. After this, D.W. asks Jane if she could make it at home anytime, which Jane might need the recipe for.

At the end, D.W. asks Richard how it's made when he comes back. Richard (before washing D.W.'s dishes) tells him how it is made. He says it is "very simple". It is simple because it is just pie pastry filled with "lots and lots of spinach". (By that line of reasoning, it is only a pie or tart with spinach baked inside of it.) Despite being able to make the dish at home, D.W finds out that the dish (Little Bo Peep Pot Pie) is pie pastry filled with spinach. While D.W. is shocked about the dish (Little Bo-Peep Pot Pie) having spinach, she does not mind the dish having spinach. Because she obediently learns to eat what is in front of her at restaurants anyway.

Characters[]

Narrator (final appearance)
Arthur Read (final appearance)
D.W. Read (final appearance)
David Read (final appearance)
Jane Read (Mom) (final appearance)
Throa Read (Grandma) (final appearance)
Pal (final appearance)
Emily (only appearance)
Mrs. Cross (only appearance)
Richard the Waiter (only appearance)

Pages[]

1. On Sunday, D.W, Arthur, Baby Kate, and Mrs. Read unpack the groceries. D.W refuses to eat the packet of fish.
2. D.W pretends to try the Hawaiian shrimp (and that is on Thursday at dinner). (The Hawaiian shrimp is depicted as breaded shrimp.)
3. Emily invites D.W over to stay for dinner on Friday. And luckily, D.W is having spaghetti.
4. On Saturday, D.W and her family went out for dinner. At the restaurant, D.W said that the salad has spinach. When she says she hates spinach (and pounds her fists onto the salad dish), her mother sighs that she is so embarrassed. Her father scolds her and he says, "NO MORE RESTAURANTS FOR YOU!" (and temporarily grounds her from restaurants). (By Mr. Read's line of saying that, D.W is not allowed to join any more other restaurants with her family until she learns to cooperate and eat what is in front of her.) Then Mr. Read adds, "IT IS EARLY TO BED FOR YOU, D.W!".
5. For the next few weeks, the family went out to dinner without D.W. A friendly (but also quite strict) babysitter named Mrs. Cross watches over D.W. She only allowed carrot sticks for night snacks and made D.W go to bed at 8 o'clock.
6. At breakfast, Arthur twirls a tiny paper umbrella. D.W becomes jealous when she sees that Arthur got the umbrella as a gift.
7. Sometime later, it is Grandma Thora's birthday. Even though D.W was supposed to be grounded from it, D.W she wants to join too. But her family warns her she has to eat what is on the menu.
8. D.W and her family see Grandma Thora at the restaurant (Once Upon a Restaurant).
9. D.W was happy, and she sat in her chair.
10. The waiter Richard offers D.W a kiddie seat.
11. D.W ordered a Little Bo Peep Pot Pie. (Finally, she found out that spinach tastes good and ate the entire dish.)
12. After the waiter Richard clears D.W's dishes, D.W --who wants to make it at home and eat it every night (as spoken from page 11)-- asks the waiter Richard how it (the Little Bo Peep Pot Pie) is made. (That is, as the waiter clears and washes D.W's dishes.) The waiter says, "Very simple really". And when D.W asks what is so simple about the recipe, the waiter Richard tells her the answer. As D.W listens to the waiter's answer --to her question (about the "Little Bo Peep Pot Pie" (dish)-- the dish (Little Bo Peep Pot Pie) is a pie/tart pastry filled with lots and lots of spinach. (That is, as he says, "Just get some pie pastry and fill it with lots and lots of spinach!".) So D.W found out that the "pie" dish is just pie/tart pastry with spinach. Even though this shocks D.W, D.W does not mind. Because she cooperates and eats what is placed in front of her family.

The Playhouse (Emily's Game)
Storybook Maker (Ms. Cross's Game)
Gopher Squirting (Arthur's Game)
Family Picnic (Mr Read's Game)

Foods in the Family Picnic Game[]

Grains[]

Bread #1
Bread #2
Rolls
Muffins
Cereal
Spaghetti
Rice
Crackers
Pretzel
Biscuit
Bagel

Vegetables[]

Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Spinach
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Potatoes
Carrots
Peas
Corn
Mushrooms
Eggplant

Fruits[]

Apples
Grapes
Bananas
Oranges
Pears
Peaches
Pineapple
Watermelon
Cherries
Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries

Proteins[]

Eggs
Fish
Bacon
Steak
Roast Beef
Turkey
Chicken
Hot Dog
Dried Beans
Walnuts

Desserts[]

Cake
Donuts
Candy
Chocolate Bar
Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows
Soda Pop

Dairy Products[]

White Milk
Chocolate Milk
Cheddar Cheese
Cottage Cheese
Swiss Cheese
Yogurt

Elwood City Locations[]

Arthur's House
Chinese Restaurant
The Derby

Trivia[]

While the Living Books production staff worked on this game, Media Station produced the game as a result of Brøderbund's shutdown in 1998 (despite the Brøderbund logo oddly being on the cover along with copyright info about Brøderbund). This is the reason for some of the outcomes having occurred as a result:
- This is the last official Living Books game.
- This game is not likely to be re-released by Wanderful, due to low production values and lack of Broderbund's involvement. Copies of the CD-ROM can still be found on some auction sites including eBay.
- This is why it is the only Living Books game that doesn't use the IBM/Mohawk engines, and the only Living Books game that will not work on your desktop without the CD-ROM.
- This is the only Living Books game that has a different menu system (rather than the usual menu system; the usual main page from the other games) aside from the rest of the games in the series. D.W.'s bedroom is set as the main menu, so all the option buttons are different than usual and come from clicking on any object in D.W.'s bedroom.
- This is the only Living Books game that has omitted "Read to Me" as an option and also the character dance on the main menu.
- As the only Living Books Arthur game, it goes straight back to the main menu, making it the fourth game in the series without a “THE END” screen, just like with The New Kid on the Block, Stellaluna and The Cat in the Hat. However, all the other Living Books in the Arthur series have a "THE END" screen.
  - This is the only Living Books game which fades back to the main menu (from the last page) differently. The screen after the last page (page 12) irises out (an iris shot) and fades to black. Then it irises back to D.W's room (back to the main menu).
- This is the only Living Books game not to have a character say "Welcome to Living Books!" on the main menu. Harry and the Haunted House, Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat also have the similar situations where a character says something else rather than “Welcome to Living Books!”.
  - In D.W's case (that being in D.W the Picky Eater), D.W she says to the reader, "Hi. I am D.W. And this is my room".
- This is the only Living Book game that does not have "No" or "Yes" answers for the Quit page, instead saying "Quit" or "Stay".
  - When the user clicks on D.W.'s door if they want to quit (seen as an option on both the main menu and on the pages), D.W. gives the user a "Quit" and "Stay" answer.
    - Instead of "Are you sure you want to quit?", she says "If you want to say goodbye, click 'Quit'. If you want to keep playing, click 'Stay'". You leave the book when D.W. says "Goodbye" (if "Quit" is chosen). However, clicking "Quit" is not always necessary to do so, because the user may want to keep playing the game by choosing "Stay". D.W. says "Great" (if "Stay" is chosen). Then, the "Quit" and "Stay" options fly upward offscreen so the user can continue playing.
- It is also the only Living Book game to not display the page number.
This is the only Living Books game that also allows the player to skip out the Living Books logo, the Living Books title screen, and the reading by clicking to skip.
- On Arthur's Computer Adventure, this can be done by pressing the Enter key. But neither of these features allow the player to skip out the Living Books logo and title screens and the reading work in the Arthur's Computer Adventure game nor the other previous 16 games (prior to D.W the Picky Eater).
- In Green Eggs and Ham, page 12 is the only page in the entire game overall which allows the player to click in order to skip the reading. That way, they can go straight to the "Rhyming Game".
On Windows computers (prior to Windows XP), this is the only Living Books game which does not run on Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, but only on Windows 95 and 98.
- On the installation screen, it just shows an error then back to the user's desktop.
Just like Ruff's Bone, Green Eggs and Ham, and Arthur's Computer Adventure, this game also has its own original credits (displaying a picture from one page of the book) and use jazz credits animations.
The software adaptation is loosely adapted from the book (D.W the Picky Eater):
- In the cartoon adaptation of the book, D.W.'s mother (Jane) told D.W. she would not have any restaurants until she learned to behave appropriately and eat what was in front of her. In the book (and the software adaptation), D.W.'s father (Mr. David Read) told her. But still, she was not allowed to do any restaurants until she learned to cooperate.
- In the cartoon adaptation from the book, the waiter at "Once Upon a Restaurant" is the same waiter from the restaurant from a previous Saturday where D.W and her family went out to dinner at. In this version (software adaptation) and the book too, the waiter from the restaurant from a previous Saturday that D.W. and her family went out to dinner at was also "Once Upon a Restaurant".
In the "Family Picnic" game, the reason why the "dessert" plate only has one food for dessert is because sweets are usually meant to be used sparingly.
- Interestingly, the plate for grains is highlighted in purple, the one for vegetables is highlighted in indigo, the one for fruits is highlighted in blue, the one for proteins is highlighted in yellow, the one for dairy is highlighted in green, and the one for dessert is highlighted in red.
  - Orange is the only color (from the rainbow) not used to highlight a food group plate.

Quotes[]

Page 4[]

Mr. Read: (when clicked on) IT IS GOING TO BE EARLY TO BED FOR YOU, D.W!