Clifford, We Love You

Clifford the Big Red Dog

by Norman Bridwell

When Clifford is feeling blue, his friends try to cheer him up and write a song for him. (Includes words and music.)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Dogs, Love, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

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

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Big Red Dog is feeling blue. Emily Elizabeth and her friends try everything to cheer him up but nothing works . . . until Emily writes a happy song for him.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clifford is depressed and his friends spend the book trying to cheer him up. I'd have been more interested if Bridwell had explored the source of his depression. Is it remorse or regret for all the havoc he has wreaked over the years? Or has he realized that his size precludes the possibility of ever having conventional sex? Which then raises the question of whether or not Clifford is fixed. If not, could Emily Elizabeth's family be able to afford paying for all of his destruction and food by selling tubfuls of his sperm for people interested in duplicating his color and size in their dog-breeding programs? How would the harvesting be managed? How deep is this rabbit hole?

[Azura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hi, I am Azura. I like this book, because it has Clifford and he, well, I don't know why he was feeling so grumpy and sad. But that's all I have. Bye!

Azura spoke

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a literary dream or work of art. But, children enjoy stories about familiar characters and Clifford is one of those iconic characters who has spanned generations. I like that this book is written in a song so I can sing a lot of the book to my kids. I think that they like that too.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm almost 55, live each day in chronic pain, and thought reading a Clifford book might cheer me up.

It didn't. I cried instead. One song can't cure depression.

Clifford's probably sad because he has cancer and all his doggy friends are dead and no one understands him. He's just pretending to be feel better at the end. The next day, he'll try to kill himself.

[Random Scholar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story because it shows a main theme of Valentine's Day (kindness) without involving romance in any way. I wish there were more stories like this for kids that don't deal with romance. I would recommend this to students in grades K-2.

[Lillith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was one of the best books I ever read. It was really sweet and I think I would read it again. The song was sweet. Someone who likes dogs and being creative and the color red and big things will probably like this book.

(Transcribed by Dad)

[Mr. Peace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read at Grandma's E's

[Christopher.C · Rating 1 out of 5]

bADDDDDD

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book to read. My 3 kids enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this book to others.

[Danielle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite sweet and loving

[Kaayna]

Amazing

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandchildren loved it. Can't get enough of Clifford books.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Clifford as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TCNS]

2 copies available

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

That song felt like it went on forever as the singer of it, but these kids love Clifford too.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clifford's feeling down and out so after trying other things Emily sings him a song. This is a valentine book and was cute. Got from neighbor for my nephew.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I didn’t like hearing the song.”



(read aloud by himself at 4yo, missed three words, ‘Alison’, ‘Marcia’, and ‘starred’.)

[Blane Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one even has a cute song ♥️

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clifford the big red dog seemed really unhappy. Emily Elizabeth tried many things to cheer him up but nothing worked. Finally, she thought about writing him a song which made all the difference. On the back page is the musical score for that song so the reader can sing along. Fun illustrations.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading challenge category - 2024 Popsugar: Author's 24th book

Who doesn't love Clifford? I haven't read these books since I was a small child. A cute, nostalgic visit.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clifford was feeling down; and nothing was making him feel better. Everyone tried to make him feel better and nothing was doing the trick. But Emily Elizabeth wrote a song and sang it to him. In this book it has the song for our children to sing to.

[Jenny williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norman Bridwell has probably wrote a billion different Clifford books within his career and every single one varies slightly from any other Clifford story. Every time I see a Clifford book or even see a red dog, I immediately reminisce on my elementary days when there would be a cool book fair set up in the library (Scholastic Book Fair) and some years a life sized Clifford was there! This particular Clifford book teaches a few valuable hidden lessons about true friendships and how they can effect people's feelings. Clifford was sad about something so all of the girls tried to make him happier but fail each time until they make him a song and then suddenly, he's a little bit happier and the entire crisis is averted. Clifford can do it all I swear.

[Mason, Natalie & Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

What? Another Clifford book? How many does the school own?!? I remember being a huge Clifford fan myself at his age, but now, not so much! ;)

The book was same old Clifford...a bit difficult for me to read because half of it was a song, so I improvised the tune and sorta made it into a hip-hop version, haha! There is music and lyrics in the back though. Good story about trying to cheer up a friend.

[Holly Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book Clifford is feeling down in the dumps and Emily Elizabeth can't seem to cheer him up. Then Emily Elizabeth decides to write Clifford a song of how much she loves Clifford and how he is special. Clifford is then so happy and was no longer sad. I would use this book to teach about supporting your friends when they feel sad. It's important for your friends to know you are there for them and want to make them happy.

[Liliana Escamilla]

Clifford shows how dogs have emotions too and how we as owners must care for them and try to cheer them up, so that they too can be happy.

With this book children can learn about feelings and how we should express those feelings to people that we care about so that they know how we are feeling.

This book can be used in the classroom around Valentine's Day to show children how to express our feelings to our loved ones.

[Davis Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6 year old son borrowed this book from our local library.

In this book, Clifford is sad. Emily Elizabeth tries all sorts of things trying to make Clifford happy. Nothing seemed to work. She then decides to write him a song that is all about how special he is and how much she loves him.

Written with easy text, but my son needed a little help with some of the words. Colorful illustrations.

[Dahl Kids · Rating 2 out of 5]

If rated by Clara, this would be 5 stars. Clara is obsessed with the Clifford books these days. After reading them 100+ times, I'm not so much. But, she loves them! She looks at all the books on the back to chose which one we should check out next.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story to tell when someone is feeling down, or left out. It shows the importance of showing someone how much you care because sometimes we forget that we have our family and friends there for us.

[Tabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my all time favorite childhood book!