Clifford's Day with Dad

Clifford the Big Red Dog

by Norman Bridwell

Clifford has the best dad ever! When Clifford visits his dad in the country, they spend a fun day fetching, digging and playing together!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Fiction, Juvenile, Family

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

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

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clifford runs away from home to visit his father, who teaches him some things he thinks all dogs should know. Mild and nonsensical mischief ensues. Somehow Emily Elizabeth is able to narrate the whole story even though she wasn't there, an offshoot of the same latent magical abilities that allowed her to grow Clifford to giant size with her love I guess.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been subtitled "Clifford's Day of Destruction". It is a poignant reminder of what a hardship it can be to own a dog, particular one of Clifford's enormity. Property destruction, along with traffic disruption and danger, are only a few of the grave consequences.

The prose is repetitive, and awkward. I only give it one star but must add one extra as my two-year-old keeps pointing at it each evening and saying "Dad! Dad! Dad!", so he must like it or something. Thus, I have read it thrice each bedtime for the past week despite its flaws.

[Baby Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

We borrowed this one from the library. It’s a special book for me because my name is Emily Elizabeth and I like doing things with my dad!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I now have a tradition to purchase a new book about dads for my husband for father's day. My daughter will write (or draw since she can't write yet) in the book and I write the date. It's fun because my daughter gets a bedtime story every night before bed and this is a special one for her and dad to read together (normally I read with her).

This was a cute book about Clifford wanting to go spend some time with his dad. It's of course hilarious because whenever Clifford tries to do something a normal dog would do, it ends up being much more destructive. What I enjoy about the Clifford books is that you really have to take in the text and the illustrations to get the full picture of what happens when it's Clifford's turn. While it goes over my daughters head right now at 1.5 years old, it's great for kids as they get older to see how text and pictures go together to tell a story.

Clifford books are also a great way of getting kids to start predicting. Knowing what we know about Clifford and his size, what do you think is going to happen when he tries digging a hole? Then turn the page and see if you were right.

This one I enjoyed because it showed father and son spending time together. Clifford's dad wanted to teach him about things that all dogs do. It's just a nice book about spending time together and how both father and son teach each other things.

I'm not sure why so many people have criticized about Clifford's destructiveness. It's a children's book for Pete's sake! It's just supposed to be funny! Get over it. You're not reading for Pulitzer Prize level literature here... sheesh. Just enjoy the story with your kid.

[Kaci Beesecker]

Watching Emily Elizabeth with her father makes Clifford want to spend time with his own dad in the country. During their visit, Clifford's dad makes sure Clifford knows everything a good dog should. They spend a fun day fetching, digging, and playing together.

This book would be a good book to read around Father's Day, and you could have your students create their own book with pictures saying all the things they like to do with their dad or guardian. As a class, they could predict what Clifford and his dad are going to do when they are together.

[Hannah Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clifford is much bigger than everyone in the town which causes issues. Through the issues his dad still loves him. There are lots of bright colors throughout this book. Movements are defined through each picture. There are different things going on throughout the book, but the reader gets the picture of all of them.

[Sierra Spalding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved watching the tv show when I was a kid! Such a cute little book

[Danielle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I am liking ‘Clifford’s Day With Dad’”.


(read aloud at 4yo, no words missed)

[Alexa Durso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it to my kids during snack time, it was so cute!

[Yvonne A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clifford the Big Red Dog is a familiar character that all kids love! I mean who wouldn't love this giant pup. In Clifford’s Day with Dad, he spends the day with his father learning the things that every dog should learn how to do. From fetching a stick to digging a hole, every moment Clifford spends with his dad is a great one. Readers could take the relationship of Clifford and his dad and connect it with their dads or moms, grandparents, aunts, uncles, even friends. They might not do what dogs do, but they do do things together that make moments special.

The story is told by Emily Elizabeth another character in the story that appears in the very beginning. Since she is a kid I think young readers can make a connection with her. This might cause the story to be more fun for readers since it is told by someone like them. The text is written in small section in an almost step by step way, making it easy for the reader to follow along. The text also follows along with the illustrations showing exactly what is going on.

The illustrations are the same as the images in the TV show. If the reader watches the show they will easily be able to identify Clifford. They could also have more of an imagination of Clifford doing all these things with his father. The illustrations are very colorful and detailed, showing the movement and playfulness in all the things that are going on in the story. Readers will be able to laugh as this ginormous pooch goes on yet another adventure.

[Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clifford ditches out on a party for Emily's father to spend some time in the country with his dad. While out in the "country" (more on that later), Clifford causes massive amounts of destruction to the level of ruining a roadway's underlying structure.

Let's think about this. Every time Clifford pulls a stunt like this, who is left explaining things to the authorities, book after book? Emily's dad. Who do you think pays for the massive amount of food Clifford consumes? Emily's parents. Who cleans up after Clifford, in more way than one? Emily and her family.

But no, go on, ditch the party for the one family that's taken on the challenge of owning you.

And while we're told that Clifford's father lives out in the country, the landscape depicted is virtually identical to where Clifford lives. There's a similar sparse smattering of ranch housing and wide empty lawns. Does Clifford live in an exurb relatively close to a major city, while his father lives in a clustered suburb surrounded by farmland? Or is this just lazy artistry, with the two settings hardly differentiated at all?

[Sara Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clifford misses his dad when it's Emily Elizabeth's dads birthday, so he runs off in the middle of the party to go see him. Once he arrives, he dad tries to teach Clifford many things, including how to dig a hole and how to go through trash cans. When Clifford does these things, he tries to make his father proud, but ends up making a mess. He then helps his dad catch a Frisbee and helps make sure everyone stays safe after his dad chases a motorcycle. The ending tells how they both think they have the best son/father in the whole world.
I think this was a very cute book and really enjoy the Clifford series.
In a classroom, this would be the perfect book to recommend for Fathers day. This would also be good if there is a parents day or just for children who love the Clifford series.

[Donna (Jaevenstar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clifford spends time with his dad doing all the things the love doing together, but of course, Clifford has to do everything "his way" and causes lots of problems! If your child loves Clifford, they will love this book. Perfect for Father's Day or for any day that dad wants to read a book to their child.

[Ealthafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clifford books are good books for young students to hear and read because they know Clifford from his tv show. I would use this book to work on predicting because students can predict what will happento Clifford when he tries to do what his dad shows him.

[Kelsey Ruggirello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clifford's Day with Dad wasn't really a great book, it doesn't really teach anything. It was about how on Father's Day, Clifford missed his dad so he ran all the way to the country to visit him and his dad taught him all these things that he felt like a dog should know, like how to catch.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book read with Nicole.

[Nathan Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clifford runs off to find his father. Hilarity ensues.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it a 4 stars because it is a very long book. This was about Clifford meeting his dad and causing trouble.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun Clifford book - I love the idea of promoting dads/sons spending time together.