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Clifford Collection | September 3, 2014

by Norman Bridwell (Scholastic, September 2012)

Every year, come September, I always get a little nostalgic for the good old days when I was in school, so I thought I’d revisit a classic from my childhood in the way of Clifford the Big Red Dog. He celebrated his 50th birthday last year, and to commemorate the occasion, Scholastic released this storybook collection of his first six stories, featuring the original artwork. Most of you probably grew up with a full-color Clifford, but as it turns out, the series—which has grown to include countless books, tons of merchandise, and its own TV show—started as a three-color book. With rough black lines and the obvious pops of red, the Clifford on these pages might not be the one you know today, but he and the overall look of the stories are incredibly delightful.

The collection features the stories: Clifford the Big Red Dog, Clifford at the Circus, Clifford Gets a Job, Clifford Takes a Trip, Clifford’s Good Deeds, and Clifford’s Tricks. Each story has the larger-than-life dog finding himself, and his human owner Emily Elizabeth, in troublesome situations — ultimately saving the day in a way only Clifford could manage. My personal favorite is when Clifford, failing to find a job he’s really good at, manages to help local police by playing fetch with a couple of robbers. For parents and curious kids wanting to delve more into the history of this iconic pooch, the book also includes a letter from Norman Bridwell, a look at his painting from 1962 — which first inspired the characters –and other fun tidbits about the creation of this beloved series. The Clifford Collection is a unique treasury that is sure to be cherished by kids, their parents…and perhaps even their grandparents.

 

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