Other Bridwell books include “A Tiny Family” and “The Witch Next Door.”īridwell is survived by his wife, Norma, his daughter Emily Elizabeth, his son Timothy and three grandchildren. The story follows the adventures of Emily Elizabeth and her giant dog, Clifford, who is much larger than any other dog in town.

“Clifford, the Big Red Dog” was succeeded by such titles as “Clifford Gets a Job,” “Clifford and the Grouchy Neighbors” and “Clifford Follows His Nose.” Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell is a beloved childrens book that has captured the hearts of young readers for generations. Bridwell’s manuscript was turned down by nine publishers before Scholastic put it out. The original Clifford story was about a runty pup who grows into a gigantic dog thanks to Emily Elizabeth’s care. Clifford’s friend, Emily Elizabeth, takes her name from one of Bridwell’s children. Bridwell originally wanted to name him “Tiny,” but his wife convinced him otherwise.

“Norman personified the values that we as parents and educators hope to communicate to our children - kindness, compassion, helpfulness, gratitude - through the Clifford stories which have been loved for more than 50 years.”Ĭlifford, an oversized, clumsy but good-natured dog whose curiosity sometimes gets him into mischief, was born in 1963. “Norman Bridwell’s books about Clifford, childhood’s most loveable dog, could only have been written by a gentle man with a great sense of humor,” said Scholastic Chairman and CEO Dick Robinson. Clifford also crossed over to television, starring on the PBS Kids series of the same name. He was 86.Īccording to Scholastic, Bridwell’s “Clifford” books - and there are dozens of them - have sold millions of copies in 13 languages. (CNN) - Norman Bridwell, the creator of “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” has died, according to his publisher, Scholastic.īridwell is a native of Kokomo, Indiana and attended the Herron School of Art and Design.īridwell died December 12 in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated.

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