SuitabookClifford Goes To Dog School
Norman Bridwell
- Reading
- Read the training episodes for their comic mishaps, then pause at the street-crossing moment. You could ask what each character might do differently next time without losing sight of Clifford’s helpfulness.
- Themes
- Being valued beyond obedience: Clifford struggles with dog-school instructions but helps Emily Elizabeth when she is in danger; she concludes that he is perfect as he is. The ending affirms Clifford’s worth despite his imperfect training, while his helpful action matters more than simply following commands.
- Worth knowing
- Training mishaps include Clifford sitting on a passing stranger; later, Emily Elizabeth crosses the street without checking and Clifford rescues her. The peril is part of the story’s resolution.