Norman Bridwell

  • 130

    Catalog books

  • 107

    Works

  • 1971 to 2025

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Norman Bridwell is the creator of the Clifford picture books, centering on a giant red dog whose gentle, curious nature anchors stories about friendship, family, and community. His titles—from Clifford’s first adventures to holiday-themed books—use simple text and warm illustrations to engage young readers and early-emergent literacy.

Bridwell’s Clifford books mix everyday situations with a touch of whimsy: school sports, holidays, neighborhood helpers, and first experiences. The straightforward plots and expressive art invite repeated readings, making these volumes easy choices for read-aloud sessions and for children learning about empathy and belonging.

Best Place To Start

Clifford Boxset

Scholastic • 2003 • standard commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Clifford the Big Red Dog picture books • Gentle stories about friendship and community • Bright, simple illustrations • Holidays and everyday moments

Genres and themes: Picture books for young children • Friendship and loyalty • Family and community • Introduction to feelings

Who this author is best for: Warm, easy-to-follow stories and bold illustrations suited to read-alouds with toddlers and early readers.

Start with a classic Clifford picture book or a holiday title from the list to match reading occasion and attention span.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Clifford Boxset

    Scholastic • 2003 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2003 • 192 pages.

  2. Clifford Keeps Cool (Clifford)

    Scholastic • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 32 pages.

  3. Clifford's Big Book of Things to Know (Clifford)

    Scholastic • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 38 pages.

  4. Clifford's Valentine Bag of Fun

    Scholastic • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 48 pages.

  5. Cooking With Clifford Book and Cookie Cutters

    Scholastic • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 24 pages.

  6. Count On Clifford (cuenta Con Cliff Ord) (Clifford)

    Scholastic • 1999 • quick commitment

    You enjoy Norman Bridwell’s Clifford character and familiar dog-and-family scenes | You want a bilingual Spanish-English…

  7. Clifford And The Big Parade (Clifford)

    Scholastic • 1998 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1998 • 32 pages.

  8. Clifford The Small Red Puppy (cliff Ord, El Pequeno Perro Colorado) (Clifford)

    Scholastic • 1998 • quick commitment

    you enjoy classic picture-book characters like Clifford and Emily Elizabeth | you read aloud in classroom or family sett…

  9. Clifford the Big Red Dog: Clifford's Spring Clean-Up

    Scholastic • 1997 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 32 pages.

  10. Clifford's Peek-and-Seek Animal Riddles (Clifford the Small Red Puppy)

    Scholastic • 1997 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 24 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Clifford Keeps Cool (Clifford) is the easier short commitment, while Clifford Boxset asks for more reading time up front.
  • Clifford Keeps Cool (Clifford) gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Clifford Boxset leans later in the catalog.

More Books By Norman Bridwell

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