Norman Bridwell, author who created Clifford the Big Red Dog, dies at 86
Source: New York Times
Norman Bridwell, the creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog, a figure who looms as large in toddler lit as the great white whale does in the American canon, died on Friday in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on Marthas Vineyard. He was 86.
Kyle Good, a spokeswoman for Scholastic Books, which over the past half-century has published dozens of Clifford titles by Bridwell, confirmed his death without specifying a cause. Bridwells wife of 56 years, Norma, told The Associated Press that he had prostate cancer and that he had been in the hospital for three weeks after a fall at his Marthas Vineyard home in Edgartown.
Bridwell was an out-of-work commercial artist living in New York City when he sold the idea for a single book about a dog big enough for his loving owner, a little girl, to ride. That had been his own fantasy as a little boy, he said.
In the actual drawing of the book, Clifford turned out close to the size of a house. He was an affectionate, slightly clumsy, eager-to-help creature who had flaws he had a tendency to dig up flowers, among other things and caused problems. But he was nonetheless the embodiment of kindness and amiability, a four-legged, wet-nosed, bright red lesson in learning to get along with others.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/obituary-headlines/20141217-norman-bridwell-author-who-created-clifford-the-big-red-dog-dies-at-86.ece
murielm99
(30,745 posts)My kids loved those books. The youngest liked them especially.
Wabbajack_
(1,300 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)Rest in peace.
calimary
(81,323 posts)We had so much fun reading them aloud.
Rest in Peace, Norman Bridwell. And many many thanks.
Freddie
(9,267 posts)The first one was published in 1963 when I was in first grade and I remember getting it from Scholastic Book Club and loving the story, especially as my folks would never let us get a dog. Was delighted when Clifford turned out to be a timeless classic when my own kids were little and now my 4-year-old granddaughter loves him. Rest in peace, Mr. Bridwell.
BeyondGeography
(39,375 posts)How many times I watched this with my little girl...used to turn me to mush:
Wheezy
(1,763 posts)When I was a young bookseller wanting to be a writer back in the 90s, my Scholastic sales rep arranged for Norman to have a look at one of my stories. He gave me some great feedback.