Clifford's Tricks

Clifford the Big Red Dog

by Norman Bridwell (Illustrator)

This time, Clifford is challenged to match skills with the neighbor's dog!

When a new girl and her pet dog move next door, the battle of the pooches begins! Find out what happens when Clifford and Emily Elizabeth innocently let their vanity get the best of them, trying to outdo the other couple in a series of challenges. But no worry! Ultimately, peace is made and the day comes to its end on a positive note.

Meet Clifford and Emily Elizabeth in an original Clifford book!
Like other dogs, Clifford sometimes chases cars; unlike other dogs, Clifford catches them. Like other dogs, Clifford digs in the garden; but while other dogs may dig up a few flowers, Clifford can dig up a whole tree. Also like other dogs, Clifford chases cats—big cats, like lions! When Clifford messes up, he messes up big time!

Laugh and giggle with another Clifford adventure!—in 1963, Norman Bridwell published his very first 'Clifford' book, and kids have loved him ever since. He's an adorable dog whose well-meaning bumbling's have great kid-appeal. Clifford is Emily Elizabeth's, & everyone's, favorite big red dog!

Age Rating: 1–6+ / Preschool - Kindergarten+ / Lexile AD180L

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Fiction, Kids, Classics

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Norman Bridwell was an American author and cartoonist, best-known for the Clifford the Big Red Dog series of children's books. Bridwell attended John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana. He lived on Martha's Vineyard, MA, where he wrote an average of two books a year.

Reviews

[Paolish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book because it is based on a cartoon from my childhood; plus, I love dogs. It was a bit hard to read after losing mine, but I still appreciate the lesson that, at the end of the day, it’s not about competing to see who has the best pet, but rather that everyone has the pet they need. A lovely story for children to enjoy and to help them leave envy and competitiveness aside.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a few Clifford Scholastic or Weekly Reader books when I was little, including this book. My favorite was Clifford the Small Red Puppy. I think I had the 1969 edition, too, which meant I had a book as old as I was ... at one point. Stupidly, when I was about 10, I gave away all of my non-horse books, including my Clifford books. My parents wouldn't let me give away either of my Bibles. Pity. I could've fit a lot of Cliffird books in the space those Bibles took up.

I remember feeling a little miffed that bitchy Martha was a brunette, since she had hair somewhat like mine at the time. I also felt a bit bad for Bruno, seeing as he was stuck with Martha. And he did know some good tricks. Now that I'm an adult, I can't help but wonder if Bruno was part pit bull. He had the ears and the face. He also was very brave.

As an adult, I find this book a lot funnier than I did when I was five or six. Of course, at that age, I thought dogs as big as Clifford existed. "Some people make such a fuss over a little bark." That illustration alone is worth the price of admission.

This early Clifford book has only five colors, but Bridwell uses those five to maximum advantage, including using orange to show a non-white policeman.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading novels to my children, especially when they are ones that promote more reading to my kids, because they relate to something that they already know and enjoy- like a popular kid's TV show. However, I have found that the older my son gets, the more he's beginning to realize when they just don't make since.

The ending in each of these Clifford stories were abrupt and sudden, and some of the things that Emily E. and Clifford were doing just didn't make since (like playing with bear cub?). When my five year-old and point out to me that that was dangerous, I know that something just doesn't add up the way I expected it too. I love the show, they are thought out and well done; however, I felt like a few pages had been taken out each of the stories so they were all incomplete.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clifford and Emily show to their new neighbor a d her dog Bruno all the tricks that he can do that Bruno can too. However the little girl tries show her dog how walk over bridge rail and you can imagine what happens. Clifford saves her and Bruno.

I gave 4 cause didn't like how where trying to one up each other. Clifford is awesome though.

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clifford books are pretty funny. Emily is really proud of him, but he always messes up. Usually, however, he saves himself and somebody else in the end.

[Danielle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

[Pamela Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up learning to read with Clifford. In this one Emily Elizabeth is showing off the tricks that Clifford can do.

[Lynne Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love Clifford

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book in the Clifford the Big Red Dog series. Sweet and silly.

[Dylan Mx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Elizabeth and her new neighbor are trying to one up each other to prove they have the best dog.

D loves Clifford - her favorite line is when Clifford loudly says BOW WOW!

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Clifford and Emily Elizabeth

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like all the one-upping, but they learn to appreciate each other in the end.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny little story about what happens when a new girl moves in next door to Emily Elizabeth. My children and I had fun reading it together.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like Martha, but I'm glad the police forgave Clifford for mashing their car.

[Anna McFarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter laughed so hard when I got to the speak Clifford part. I find it funny when Emily Elizabeth was like I can’t believe people are so sensitive over a bark. Or something like that

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read aloud by himself at 5yo, no words missed)

[Liz]

So, I guess I haven't read any books featuring child endangerment to my daughter, because my 2.5 year old was both fascinated and scared by this book.

The "plot" of the story was a little unexpected. Louie CK jokes that all Clifford books have no plot other than "holy ****, that dog is huge". So, when the book decided to throw a kid off a bridge, it seemed like perhaps this Clifford book was a bit outside of the typical Clifford canon. I don't really know though, this is only our second one.

Clifford crushes a police car by accident - the first fascinating plot development. The wheels in my daughter's head began to turn as she contemplated this. "BAD DOG!" she decided, shaking her finger at the picture of Clifford.

Then, Martha "does a foolish thing" and falls off a bridge. Yep, foolish, pretty much covers it. The picture features the girl falling head-first into the river below.

So, thanks to this book, my daughter has a pretty good understanding of what "dangerous" means. It scared her, but, you can't shelter your kids from fear and danger forever, I suppose.

I would have maybe prefered the story to end with Martha's dad yelling at Martha for tightroping across the railing of a bridge, and maybe a police officer arresting Martha's parents for forgetting to hire a babysitter, but, in this fictional world, everyone gives their dog a hug and decides that their opinions are the only valid ones. Maybe it's not so unrealistic after all.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an 'original' Clifford book; and probably where the writers of the PBS cartoon got Jetta and her dog from. The little girl in this book thinks her dog is the best and isn't impressed with Clifford at all. So they have a competition of sorts of who's better...Clifford in the end rescues the girl and saves the day.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wherever Clifford lives, I'm amazed that two police cars and one foot patrolman respond immediately to him barking. Does this police force have nothing else to do?

Considering that they forgive Clifford's owners for the destruction of a police car because Clifford saved a girl and her dog from the nearby river? There's plenty of odd behavior at this precinct.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book that allowed my child to see competition of some sort...as well as exposing him to some danger. Since he's so little he didn't pick up on those nuances; he was more interested in looking at the pictures and turning the pages. Once he's older, I can use this book as a tool to introduce some dangers to him.

[Slayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made a 100 on the AR Test

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

He done a summersault and crashed the policeman's car. He saved Emily Elizabeth's friend and her puppy.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great for a new student in the class. It would also be good book to learn whats right and wrong. This book would serve many, many purposes in the classroom.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the more fun clifford stories.

[Little Miss and the Legomeister · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better Clifford books.

[Daryl Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PB6: I always like clifford books as a child, and I still do today. This was a classic story of two girls competing to be better than the other and Clifford was the shining star.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clifford shows off his talents - he can "speak" louder, play dead more dramatically, and so on.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 copy

[Sophie]

Dad and I read this one at RMHC. I laughed when Clifford rolled over the car.

[X · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending got all the kids I work with to engage in debate about whose dog was the best.