Suitabook

Clifford's Really Big Movie, On the Road, Sticker Storybook (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

Ruth Koeppel

Reading: Let the child place the stickers and narrate what they think is happening on each page. Pause to talk about Clifford’s choices, without assuming the story’s ending or how he feels about returning.
Themes: Worry and leaving home: Clifford worries that the Howards think he eats too much and leaves Birdwell Island with Cleo and T-Bone. The worry precedes his departure, but the available plot information does not establish whether the story criticises or validates his decision.
Adventure and return: Clifford and his companions join a travelling animal show, cross America and aim to return him to his family. A homecoming is presented as a goal, but the outcome and what the journey means to Clifford are not established.
Worth knowing: Clifford leaves home, and the story frames getting back to his family as a goal. A child who is sensitive to separation may appreciate knowing that this is part of the adventure.