Bear in the Big Blue House Season 4, Episode 9: History, Herstory, Bearstory

Welcome To Woodland Valley (1)

In the first part of "Welcome to Woodland Valley," viewers learn that a tragic event has happened in Woodland Valley --- a tree has fallen and ruined part of the village library. Everyone's upset about it, but the entire Woodland Valley community is pulling together to help out. When the kids of the Big Blue House, including Harry, find out, they decide to help in their own way. Viewers explore more of Woodland Valley than they've ever seen before, visiting the library, the post office, the general store and the mouse school that Tutter will be attending, among other locations.

25 min

Welcome To Woodland Valley (2)

In the second half of the two part special, the plans are coming together for a potluck dinner Bear is holding. Everyone will get together at the Big Blue House, eat good food and talk about solutions to fix up the library. The kids are hard at work collecting books to restore the library's collection. And Doc Hogg is getting down to business as to just what to do about the tree currently occupying a large portion of the library. He wants to remove it, chop it up and use it for firewood to heat all of Woodland Valley, but Ojo makes a discovery that changes the plan --- a couple of possums living within the tree. Songs Good Morning Everything's Great About the Library Woodland Valley Cha Cha Goodbye Song Notes This is a direct continuation from Part 1. Brad Garrett and Gilbert Gottfried voice the Possums in this episode and receive a "With" credit. They had previously appeared on Hollywood Squares with Bear.

25 min

Step By Step

Tutter is getting ready to start Mouse School. His teacher, Miss Maxwell, is coming to visit him at the Big Blue House. Tutter is excited about the visit, but worries over things like what tie he should wear and how he should introduce himself. Then, Ojo, Pip and Pop tell him that he'll have to know a lot to go to school, and he begins to worry that he's just not ready. As he frets, Treelo helps Bear to make a cake. And when they all pay a visit to the General Store, Pip and Pop note the training wheels on Ojo's bike. Worried they make her seem like a little bear, she borrows Bear's wrench to remove them. Songs (Take It) Step By Step

25 min

First Day At Mouse School

It's finally Tutter's very first day at Mouse School. He's really excited and happily shows off his bookbag and other school supplies to the other kids in the Big Blue House. Meanwhile, Bear and Doc Hogg share a cry over how much he's growing up. But when it comes time to go to school, Tutter is scared that he won't fit in. Bear agrees to accompany him and to wait outside the school, until he's comfortable with being there without him. Songs First Time for Everything

25 min

Rockin' Rocko

Pip and Pop are eager to introduce Bear and everyone at the Big Blue House to Rocko --- an old friend of theirs that they haven't seen in a long time. On the way to pick him up, they describe him to Bear as being a bit shy, so it comes as a big surprise when the Rocko they meet up with turns out to be full of energy --- singing and dancing and raring to go. Indeed, it seems like Rocko's going to be a lot of fun at first, but then he starts trying to play games that everyone's uncomfortable with and behaving rudely. Suddenly, nobody wants to play with Rocko, but Bear wonders if Rocko is hiding something behind his "cool" personality. Songs Rocko Rocks What a Good Friend I Could Be Notes Everyone goes to the movies to see Hare, starring puppets from The Tale of the Bunny Picnic. The title of the movie is a spoof on the title of the hit Broadway musical, Hair. When telling Bear about the movie Hare, Lois tells him that Roger Ebert says that it captures an important moment in bunny culture and goes on to say that he gives it a "great big wing up." The name of the game that Rocko suggests in this episode, "William, Don't Tell" is a reference to the Swiss hero William Tell who was the reference for the famous "William Tell Overture."

25 min

When Harry Met Hallie

Harry visits the Big Blue House with big news --- his Mama has laid an egg and it's going to be hatching really soon! Everyone in the Big Blue House is excited about the hatching. They pay Mama Duck a visit, but then return to the Big Blue House to give her some peace. Harry is excited at first to be a big brother, but doubt begins to creep in when the kids at the Big Blue House tell him some of the things they've heard about babies. It starts to seem like there isn't going to be any time for him. He recalls their predictions as Doc Hogg unconsciously talks him out of his favorite toy and Treelo draws a picture -- not for him, but for the baby. Songs Lucky Day, Ducky Today Someone to Look Up to You Notes Harry's little sister, Hallie, is born in this episode. Mama names her this after her babushka, Halinska. Allusions The title of this episode references the film When Harry Met Sally Harry's favorite toy, Swanny, performs a tune with lyrics that are a riff off of the Irish folk tune "Danny Boy."

25 min

Show and Tell

Ojo is in a hurry for Tutter to get home from Mouse School so that they can play their favorite game, Cave Explorers. Bear goes to pick Tutter up and finds out that Tutter has an assignment --- everyone at Mouse School is to give a show-and-tell of their favorite thing on Monday. Tutter considers it a big responsibility and is eager to get started, even though Bear notes that he has all weekend to work on it. Tutter gets so caught up in the project that he tells Ojo he doesn't have time to play cave explorers. Ojo becomes upset and feels that all Tutter ever talks about anymore is school. Meanwhile, Bear plans for a relaxing day at the Big Blue House, but is distracted by a leaky faucet. Songs My Favorite Stuff The Best Thing (My Favorite Stuff reprise) Notes Watch Bear's reactions during Tutter's over-the-top song about his favorite stuff. At various points, he cleans out his ear and gives odd looks.

25 min

Tutter Gathers Some Moss

Bear is coaching the soccer team for Mouse School. At the first team practice, the team is confused by Bear's complicated diagram, while Tutter is amused by a comment of Moss'. Tutter decides he wants to be Moss' friend, but is worried because he's never actually made a new friend before. He's known the kids in the Big Blue House practically his whole life and thinks of them as family. When he hears that Ojo made friends with Christine Rabbit by doing nice things for her, he gets the idea that the way to make friends with Moss is to impress him. Songs With a Friend Like Moss Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode. Tutter's invention from "Look What I Made," the mouseapult, reappears in this episode. Additionally, Tutter once again fantasizes about going to the Moon, like in the "When I'm Older" song from "Mouse Party."

25 min

At the Old Bear Game

Pip and Pop absolutely love baseball. They collect baseball cards and are especially obsessed with Ferret Jeeter, whom they believe to be capable of any sort of amazing feat. They declare Ferret Jeeter to be their hero and take little notice of Bear's attempts to tell them that he knows Ferret Jeeter. After all, everyone knows Ferret Jeeter. But it turns out that Bear really does know him personally; he and Ferret were classmates (and teammates) at Hazelnut High. Bear invites Ferret over to the Big Blue House, where he teaches the gang some things they never knew about Bear. Songs He Can Do It All Oh, What a Game Allusions Bear gives his collection of baseball cards to Pip and Pop. Included in the album are cards of a few more players with spoof names --- Joe DiMagpie, Willie Neighs and Jackie Robinsegg, which, respectively, are plays on the names of baseball greats Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson.

25 min

The Amazing Skippy

Treelo invites his squirrel friend Skippy for a visit to the Big Blue House and the kids are all excited to meet him. They are all surprised to learn that Skippy is blind and have a lot of questions for Bear while Treelo takes Skippy on a tour. They learn from Bear that Skippy has a disability, but isn't sick and that he likes to do many of the same things they do. As Skippy joins the kids during the day, they begin to wonder if he has special powers. He seems to know things that he seemingly couldn't know without some sort of special power. Skippy, however, teaches them that there's a lot one can tell by using all one's senses.

25 min

Let's Hit the Road

At Mouse School, Miss Maxwell announces a field trip and gives all the mice a permission slip for their parent or guardian to sign. Tutter is excited about the trip at first and eagerly tells the kids at the Big Blue House about it when he gets there. When he tells them that Miss Maxwell said the location would be a surprise, Pip and Pop figure that the trip must be to a field. The kids think about all of the fun things they could do on a trip around the world. Tutter, however, becomes very worried that he's going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. He hides his permission slip from Bear and later decides to fake being sick. Meanwhile, Ojo plans a big trip on her bike. She plots out her course, but finds that sometimes you need a guide, such as a responsible adult, to help out. When Miss Maxwell hears that Tutter is worried about the trip, she provides him with some reassuring, but also a bit surprising news. Songs The Wide, Wide World

25 min

Great Ball of Firefighters

25 min

Appreciation Day

It's an ordinary day at the Big Blue House, but Bear decides to check his calendar, wondering if there's anything special coming. He checks his calendar and finds that tomorrow is Teacher Appreciation Day. Wondering if Tutter and the other mice at Mouse School know, he decides to tell them before soccer practice. It turns out when he arrives that the mice were just in the middle of talking about how much they like Miss Maxwell. Bear decides to split them all into teams of two, and partners Tutter with Lily to make Miss Maxwell a gift. Tutter's not too sure about the arrangment at first, worrying that the shy and quiet Lily won't be very good at helping him to make Miss Maxwell a gift. Bear, however, persuades Tutter to give Lily a chance and things start coming together nicely. They write a poem for Miss Maxwell. There's another special appreciation surprise later on. In the Shadow segment, Shadow retells Aesop's Fable 'The Lion and the Mouse'.

25 min

Show Your Stuff

One weekend, Bear decides to start a new hobby --- "whittlin'." He gets a block of wood and an instruction book, but finds that his early efforts don't look much like the duck in the book. He determines, however, to keep trying. Meanwhile, the kids in the Big Blue House are exploring talents of their own. Ojo continues working on her bike-riding, while Pip and Pop have developed a synchronized-swimming routine. Treelo searches all over for his talent. Tutter, however, experiences a lack of confidence when he learns how great Rita is at kicking the ball in soccer. He tells Bear that he's quitting the team. Songs Do Your Thing Notes There is no Shadow segment in this episode.

25 min

Grandma Flutter's 100th Birthday

It's Grandma Flutter's 100th birthday. Bear and the kids of the Big Blue House take some time to reflect on aging and all of the experiences that life has to offer. Ojo, Treelo, Pip and Pop work to decorate the house and prepare for the party, but Tutter still needs to pick out a gift for her. Bear takes him to the General Store, but he's not sure exactly what to buy her. While at the General Store, Tutter learns about some of the wonderful things that his Grandma has done in her life. As he hears more and more, he becomes overwhelmed, until Bear helps him to see how he can work it all into a perfect gift. Bear also plays a game of chess with Doc Hogg. He's not very good, but Doc Hogg helps him to see that he has a lot of time to learn. Shadow also pays a visit and tells a story about about the life of a hammer.

25 min

The View from You

At Mouse School, Miss Maxwell shows the mice a fruit bowl and asks some of them to tell her what they see. She explains the idea of point of view and assigns everyone a project to demonstrate their point of view to the class. Tutter struggles with the assignment --- as far as he's concerned, he sees things from a "boring old Tutter point of view," and not any differently than anyone else. After hearing about the assignment, Treelo paints some paintings to show his point of view. Meanwhile, Tutter finds a camera his Grandma Flutter gave him and decides to make a film called Mouse on Mars --- but not only does he not know much about Mars, it doesn't really represent his point of view. He joins Bear in listening to a Shadow story about the point of view of a duck and a ladybug. Afterwards, Treelo's paintings provide inspiration.

25 min

To Clean or Not to Clean

Bear returns to the Big Blue House from a business trip for Bearcraft Tools to find that everything's a mess. He left Lois in charge while he was away and it seems she was perfectly willing to go along with the kids' idea of not cleaning up so that they'd have more time to play. Now Ojo and Treelo are missing their toys --- Snow Bear and Rockboy, Pip and Pop have been stuck in one spot playing an increasingly boring game of tag and Tutter's trapped in the cheese drawer. Bear talks things over with everyone and they begin to see that maybe their time-saving idea is actually wasting time. They then have the same sort of idea about taking a bath, but Bear helps them by getting them to visualize what would happen if they stopped taking baths. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a song about how to make doing chores fun. Songs Clean Up the House Everybody in the Tub Brush Brush Bree Notes This episode features the same set of songs heard in "Woodland House Wonderful" --- "Clean Up the House," "Everybody in the Tub" and "Brush Brush Bree."

25 min

The Great Bandini

Bear and our friends from the Big Blue House are on their way to attend a performance of the famous musician, the Great Bandini. All of them are in awe of the Bandini's skill and on their way, they meet somebody headed to the concert --- Edwina Badger. Edwina Badger helps them all to see the musical talents that they also possess. They learn that there are all sorts of ways to make music and that the voice can be a powerful instrument. In the Shadow segment, Shadow sings a song about jazz music.

25 min

Volunteers of Woodland Valley

Bear plans to head out into Woodland Valley to do some volunteer work, but is sidelined when he trips and falls on a skateboard left out by Pip and Pop. His "extreme skateboarding" has left him with a sprained toe, as diagnosed by Doc Hogg. Pip and Pop, as well as Tutter, Treelo and Ojo want to help out Bear, so Doc Hogg suggests they do some volunteering in his place. At first they're not sure they can do anything to help, but agree after being encouraged by Doc Hogg and Bear. Doc Hogg drops off Tutter, Pip and Pop at the library and Ojo and Treelo off at the fire station. At the library, Tutter, Pip and Pop find that a lot of Bear's volunteering there involves heavy lifting, but decide that they can help out with storytime. As they read Little Bunnies on the Glen to a group of actual little bunnies, Ojo and Treelo try to help out at the fire station. They can't change the tires on the fire truck, Bessie, like Bear was going to, but they can help to clean it up. Songs Come on In Clean Up the Truck Notes This episode also appears in online listing as "Volunteers of the Woodland."

25 min

Blue Home Of The Brave

When Miss Maxwell notices Tutter's enthusiasm for singing the "Woodland Valley Mouse School Song", she asks him to sing the Emmentaler Solo in the upcoming recital. Tutter is nervous at first, but the other mice express their approval of the idea, so he agrees. Later, his doubts resurface when practicing at the Big Blue House, but his friends offer him reassurance. Bear discusses the idea of bravery and notes that being brave often means simply trying something new. For example, as Ojo's skill on her bike continues to improve, she once again decides to try taking off her training wheels. In the Shadow segment, viewers learn about a flounder who decided to become a cowboy. Songs "Woodland Valley Mouse School Song" "You're Braver Than You Know" "The Cheese Chorus/Emmentaler Solo" Notes The closing credits state "This episode is dedicated to Dean Brent McCune Jr." This episode usually appears in online listings as "Blue Home of the Brave," but the title shown at the beginning of the episode is "Big Blue Home of the Brave." Ojo first tried riding her bike without the training wheels in "Step by Step," but she decided she wasn't ready yet. In this episode, she has Bear remove them again, but this time, she is able to ride without them.

25 min

A Trip to the General Store

On a nice day, Bear decides to make a trip to the General Store to pick up some things he needs. Hearing that he's going to the store, everyone in the Big Blue House asks if they can come too, and Bear agrees. They ask him just how the whole process of buying things and getting money works, so he tells them all about how to earn money and how clams are used as currency in Woodland Valley. Bear wants to get going to the store, but instead they all split up to find ways to earn money. Finally, they all get going to the store. But something happens at the store that teaches them another lesson entirely. Also, Bear spends some time with Shadow at the store, and she tells him a story about a turtle who saved money. Songs General Store Notes To make money, Ojo, Treelo and Tutter create a lemonade stand. Sales are slow, but they sell Bear cookies and lemonade for a total of four clams. The lemonade was made with salt instead of sugar and Bear gets a horrified look on his face after he gulps down an entire pitcher full. Pip and Pop make money by gathering clams, which they sell to Lois, who says that she'll make jewelry out of them. They receive two Woodland Valley clams for their sale. Two rabbit characters are introduced in this episode --- a little boy named Billy and his mother Bonnie. Their home was flooded in the storm that wrecked the library in " Welcome to Woodland Valley." Jeremiah Tortoise is the sole proprietor of the Woodland Valley General Store. Goofs and Nitpicks In this episode, the characters all use a form of currency unique to Woodland Valley --- clams. However, in "The Yard Sale," they all used dollars and cents.

25 min

Tutter's First Big Sleepover Bash

While Treelo, Pip and Pop are staying at Otto and Etta's, Tutter holds a sleepover for all classmates at school at the Big Blue House, with Ojo joining in as well. The mice are astounded by the size of the house and everything in it, but Bear does his best to assure them that they'll be well taken care of. He suggests that they think of it as their "home away from home." They decide to play a game called "parmcheesy" and Ojo's worried because it sounds like a game only for mice, but Tutter assures her it wouldn't be a party without her. When it comes time for bed, Keisha wants to call her parents and soon all the other mice do too. As for Tutter, he's a bit worried what the mice will think of his stuffed toy, Kitty, but Bear shows him that they all have their own stuffed toys. As they settle in to sleep, Luke is first uncomfortable with his pillow and then wants to hear a lullaby. Shadow appears to sing her special lullaby, but Luke misses the one sung by his parents and wants to go home. Songs Come on In Home Away from Home Shadow's Lullaby Notes Bear discovers the unique difficulties of feeding a large group of mice in "Tutter's First Big Sleepover Bash." He first puts out a cheese platter, but is surprised when the contents vanish before his eyes. Tutter tells him that they "warmed up on that" and Luke indicates that they're waiting for a more substantial snack. So Bear makes baked Brie for them. Performers Noel MacNeal as Bear and Moss Peter Linz as Tutter Vicki Eibner as Ojo Anney McKilligan as Rita Tara Mooney as Shadow (voice) Lynne Thigpen as Luna (voice)

25 min

A Strange Bird

One morning, Bear decides to visit the post office, knowing that Jeremiah can be slow in delivering the mail and wondering if anything's come. At the post office, he finds a two-week old postcard that reveals that a penguin named Puck from the South Pole is paying a visit to the Big Blue House --- today! Bear hurries home to greet Puck. Everyone there is eager to meet him, but the kids begin to worry when they find his food tastes and his behaviors somewhat odd. They try to play with him, but worry that they just don't understand him. Meanwhile, Tutter learns all about diversity at Mouse School. Songs It Takes All Kinds Notes The kids of the Big Blue House play the song "I Only Have Ice for You" for Puck. The title of this song is a spoof on the classic lounge song "I Only Have Eyes for You", as performed by Frank Sinatra. The song in this episode, "It Takes All Kinds," is Track 4 on the album Playhouse Disney 2.

25 min

Let It Go

When Bear visits the kitchen for a glass of water, he finds Pip and Pop wanting one as well. They make a dash with the water for the Otter Pond, saying that they have a "serious situation." They tell Bear that they're worried the Otter Pond is going to dry out and Woodland Valley will turn into a desert. Bear offers them reassurance and then seeks to find out the origin of this rumor. It turns out to have come from a rather surprising source. Later, when rain finally does come in the form of a storm, both Bear and Shadow do their best to assuage the kids' worries. Songs Come on In You Got to Let It Go Shadow Is Here No Harm (Alternate Version)

25 min

This Is Your Life, Bear

When Bear decides to do some relaxing and tune to his favorite station, WCHA-CHA, he hears an announcement for a contest. The station will play a sample from a cha-cha record and the first caller to identify the name of the tune and the artist will win. Bear resolves to sit tight so that we won't miss the contest, but has to get up to help out when the kids in the Big Blue House call. Luckily, he manages to make it back in time for the contest and succeeds in being the first caller and identifying the record. He wins a trip for himself and everyone in the house to Sequoia City. Tutter overhears him celebrating, but only hears a little of it --- he hears Bear saying that he needs a vacation and thinks that he's upset. He and the rest of the kids decide to put together a special celebration for Bear to show him how much he's appreciated.

25 min