Want to read more children’s books? Discover our list of best books for Kindergarten. Consider adding Clifford’s Puppy Days next, as it shows what the big red dog was like when he was a tiny puppy. So, if you are introducing a child to Clifford, this is the book to start with. The fantastical world of a giant dog the size of a house could put Bridwell among the best fantasy authors, but in reality, it simply shows that he loved writing books for kids. The original Clifford book was published in 1963. It introduces the giant dog, and his girl, Emily Elizabeth, with the colorful illustrations the storybooks have been well-known for. Clifford the Big Red Dog Norman Bridwell via Wikipedia, Public DomainĬlifford the Big Red Dog is the book that started it all, so it deserves the top spot in this list. Even though Bridwell passed away in 2014 at 86, his books remain classics of children’s literature, and Scholastic continues to create new stories from them.ġ. Regardless of the reason, Bridwell struck something kids loved when he created Clifford. Young children are naturally drawn to color early in their development. When asked why he made Clifford red, Bridwell said, “It was red because I happened to have red paint on the drawing table that night.” Though the color choice was an accident, it may be part of why Clifford has been so famous. The book was highly successful, and eventually, his dog became the official mascot of Scholastic Corporation. Finally, one of the publishers told him he should turn a drawing into a story, which he eventually turned into Clifford, The Big Red Dog. He graduated from Cooper Union in New York City.Īs a young man, he put together a portfolio of his art and tried to get a job working for publishing houses as a book illustrator, but he was rejected 15 times. Norman Bridwell was born in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1928.

Whether they watched him make it through his first big storm or participate in the big parade on an important holiday, the loveable but clumsy pooch makes plenty of mistakes but always gets forgiven at the end of the day.Ĭlifford was the creation of one of the best children’s books authors of all time, Norman Bridwell. Most adults today can remember reading about Clifford, the Big Red Dog, when they were children. Check out our guide and step back into your childhood with your favorite character, Clifford, with the best Norman Bridwell books.

Norman bridwell books