It is always sad to hear that the author of one of your beloved children’s books has passed away. So, with sadness we bid farewell to Norman Bridwell, the creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog.
I loved Clifford books as a little girl. I can remember looking through my Clifford books before I could even read. I think my mom bought them through my older brother’s Scholastic orders. One of my favourite was Clifford’s Halloween. Oh, that Clifford dressed up as a ghost. Nobody could tell who he was. 😉
And who could forget Clifford performing good deeds, and sling-shotting the kitten through the air?
When we were big enough to go to the school library, Clifford was one of the first series’ that I gravitated toward, and consequently the first library book I ever lost was a Clifford. (No, I haven’t lost very many library books since. It was a very traumatic experience. I thought the librarian would eat me for dinner.)
I don’t remember wanting a dog as big as Clifford. I could see how impractical that would be. And even though it was never mentioned in those books, I couldn’t imagine how you would clean up the droppings of such a humongous animal. But I loved Clifford as a puppy, he was cute and cuddly. I would have loved a Clifford plushie.
My younger brother watched Clifford on TV, but I was too old for it by then. And I didn’t like the dogs talking in it. Good grief, everybody knows that dogs don’t talk.
It is sad to say good-bye to an old friend.
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I was sad reading this news too. My son loves Clifford very much and I am so grateful for these lovely books that Bridwell put out.
Always sad to lose a favourite childhood writer. Thanks for your comments!