Clifford's Tricks [Paperback]

Norman Bridwell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1980 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Clifford

Clifford and Bruno, the new dog on the block, have a contest to see who is smarter.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

There's no denying that kids love Clifford®. The Big Red Dog® has been a favorite since Norman Bridwell created him over 40 years ago. "I was working as a commercial artist in New York City. There wasn't much work, so I made some sample pictures and took them to several publishers. They all rejected my work. But one editor suggested that I try writing a book of my own to illustrate. I had done a painting of a little girl with a big red dog. That seemed like a funny idea, so I made up a story about them. I increased the dog's size from as big as a horse to as big as a house. My wife named the dog Clifford, and we named the little girl Emily Elizabeth after our daughter. In three days I had written the story and drawn the pictures for Clifford The Big Red Dog. When Scholastic called and said they wanted the book, I was stunned." Bridwell, who grew up in Kokomo, Indiana, lives now on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, with his wife, Norma. For more information about Norman Bridwell, visit: scholastic.com/tradebooks

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cartwheel (January 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590442910
• ISBN-13: 978-0590442916
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Preschooler loves it, but it's not this parent's favorite, January 13, 2003

By 

jodienut (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Clifford's Tricks (Paperback)

Although my daughter loves this book, I was a little disappointed to find that the plot of this book is a competition between Emily E and her new neighbor, to see who has the best dog. Of course, each girl concludes that her dog is best.

The book does show how competitive comparisons can be damaging, but along the way it may leave the wrong impression on your child.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for beginning readers!, November 17, 2002

By 

Kimberly A. Harper (Warner Robins, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clifford's Tricks (Clifford the Big Red Dog) (School & Library Binding)

My first grade daughter really enjoyed this book. It was a very challenging book for her level but she was able to get through it. It is a wonderful story about a new girl in town with her dog. The new girl, Martha, loved showing off her dog, Bruno. Clifford, of course, could do every trick Bruno could do....better. I loved the fact that my daughter pointed out to me that Martha should not have been bragging about her dog. My daughter kept asking me why Martha was showing off. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to discuss this with her. Not only was the book good reading for my daughter, it provided a great life lesson as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dangers of Assuming Too Much!, August 1, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Clifford's Tricks (Paperback)

Our younger daughter loved Clifford, the Big Red Dog. His gentle disposition and tendency to shake things up with his size just suited her funny bone perfectly. Although the stories are simple, the illustrations bring them into immediate contact with your sense of humor! Clifford's Tricks is a classic of this sort.

When a new family moves next door to Emily Elizabeth and Clifford, the potential for fun increases. Martha has a big dog named Bruno whom she loves very much and is extremely proud of. In fact, pride is a problem for Martha and it gets her into trouble.

The book is set up around Martha bragging about Bruno, and then Emily Elizabeth has Clifford do his thing . . . which totally upstages the normal, but fine, dog. Obviously, Clifford turns out to be bigger, can bark louder, can bring back larger items (while Bruno brings back a newspaper from the newsstand for Martha, Clifford brings back the newsstand itself), plays dead with more theatrics (he looks like a gunfighter who's just been shot in a TV Western), and make a more impressive "roll over" (unfortunately, he crushes a police car in the process and Dad has to talk to the policemen).

Martha then said, "Maybe Clifford is a little bigger and a little smarter, but I bet Bruno is braver." She directs Bruno to walk on the railing of a bridge crossing a river. Because he is a smart dog, he refuses. Martha hops up to show how easy it is to do. She falls into the river. Brave Bruno hops in too, but he's too small to save her. When Clifford pops in the water, he rises up under them with his snout like a submarine coming up for air and carries them safely to shore. Martha now said, "Thank you, Clifford. You are the biggest, bravest, smartest dog I know." Even the police forgive Clifford. But both girls still love their own dogs best, which is as it should be.

After reading this book, you can talk to your youngster about the perils of having pride and bragging. Not only can it lead you into embarrassment, it also undermines your relationships with others, your own ability to see things clearly, and your own moral worth. You can also talk about avoiding dangerous stunts, at the same time.

Let the bragging rights settle themselves out naturally . . . and without being exercised!