Based on the “Clifford the Big Red Dog” books by Norman Bridwell, the television series was a hit from the moment it was first introduced to the public television airwaves.
Believe it or not, Clifford was the runt of his litter. When Emily Elizabeth Howard came to pick out a puppy, she felt sorry for him because he was so small. Her love made him grow to the size he is today. (Moral of the story: don’t let your children get too attached to their pets.)
The small apartment where the Howards used to live just won’t hold them anymore; in fact, Clifford’s head hangs out one window and his tail out the other. Living in the city presents other problems, too – Clifford can catch cars in his mouth. So the Howard family decides to move to a different home, finding one on Birdwell Island that is perfect for their needs.
The show primarily focuses on Clifford’s adventures with his new friends, T-Bone and Cleo. Another dog, Max, is Clifford’s foil, often getting into trouble and blaming the other dogs for it. Emily Elizabeth still gives Clifford all the love and attention he can handle, with generous helpings of Tummy Yummy dog treats and his own giant dog house with two stories. She even tells him a story every day.
From time to time, Clifford has the chance to use his size to help those around him, by slurping up huge piles of ice cream when the machine breaks and makes a mess, or by helping victims of house fires evacuate safely. His lovable nature and willingness to help more than make up for the trouble he causes by being so big.
Essentially a harmless show, your children will enjoy it. Warning, however: don’t be surprised if they ask you to adopt a great big red dog.
Tristi’s Score: 4 for Education, 7 for Entertainment, and the Parent Annoyance Factor is 1.
This is a portrait of author Norman Bridwell.