Local student creates new character for Arthur's World

A local student has won first place in a contest to create a new character for a popular children's book and TV series.

If you read kids' books and watch cartoons then you know Arthur's World. Now you'll soon be meeting Arthur's friend,

"Welcome Lydia Fox," Arthur author and creator Marc Brown said as he revealed the new character coming to his series.

Lydia is a 10-year-old fox who uses a wheelchair and loves basketball and drawing. She was unveiled Thursday to excited kids at St. John the Baptist School in Savage.

They're excited because they know the character's creator. Fellow Savage kid Connor Gordon.

"My goal was just to be a finalist," Connor said.

He's outdone himself as Lydia Fox has been chosen best from a batch of thousands in the CVS Caremark ALL KIDS CAN character search. It's a contest to show all kids can be involved, no matter the challenge.

"We really were looking for kids to think about kids come in all colors, sizes, shapes, forms an abilities and what it must be like if you have some sort of a challenge," Brown explained.

As exciting as the unveiling of the character is for Conner, for the boy who wants to grow up to be a cartoonist the best part of this day is quiet conversations with Arthur's creator.

"I can ask a ton of questions of him and see what he thinks of my art," Connor said.

And what does Mark think of young Connor's colorful creation?

"He is so talented. I was blown away by the drawing and the thought that went into the character and inventing this character," brown said.

For a little boy who wants to be a big time cartoonist it doesn't get much better than that.

Connor's win is also good for two schools. His former Savage school where the unveiling was held and his current school in Prior Lake are both getting $5,000.

By Jeff Olsen, KARE 11 News Read Jeff's Blog

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