Clifford the Big Red Dog
A giant red dog loved by children worldwide.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Clifford the Big Red Dog is a children's book series and media franchise from the United States. It follows an 8-year-old girl named Emily Elizabeth and her enormous, affectionate, red-furred dog. The first book came out in 1963, written by Norman Bridwell. The series includes 91 books; the last two were published after Bridwell died in 2014. The concept has been turned into animated shows, video games, stage plays, and live-action movies, with the most recent film released in 2021. Clifford is the official mascot of Scholastic Corporation.
The character was inspired by Bridwell’s childhood wish to have a dog as big as a horse. In 1962, he included paintings of what would become Clifford—then called “Tiny”—in a portfolio of children’s book illustrations. While showing his work to publishers, Susan Hirschman at Harper & Row suggested he turn the drawings into a story. Bridwell developed a tale about the dog and his owner, which he later submitted to Scholastic. His wife suggested the name “Clifford,” after her own childhood imaginary friend, and Emily Elizabeth was named after Bridwell’s daughter. The first book was published by Scholastic in 1963.
Clifford is a male red dog whose look, personality, and behavior are based on a giant dog. His size is shown inconsistently. The name came from Bridwell’s wife’s imaginary friend; Bridwell originally wanted to call him “Tiny,” but his wife convinced him “Clifford” was better. His owner is Emily Elizabeth. Clifford has a mother, two brothers, and two sisters, all normal-sized. He was originally the runt of the litter, expected to stay small and sickly, but grew enormous, apparently because of Emily Elizabeth’s love and care. The character was created when an editor at Harper & Row told Bridwell to write a story for one of his pictures. She picked out a sketch of a little girl with a horse-sized bloodhound and said there might be a story in it.
Emily Elizabeth is an 8-year-old girl with blond hair. She owns Clifford and is often shown riding him like a horse. She was named after Bridwell’s daughter and based on his wife’s imaginary adventures. In the TV series, her full name is Emily Elizabeth Howard, and she gets Clifford as a surprise for her 6th birthday instead of picking him out for Christmas.
In 1986, Karl-Lorimar Home Video released *Clifford’s Sing Along Adventure*, starring Arthur Howard and Jan Neuberge
- first_published
- 1963
- creator
- Norman Bridwell
- field
- Children's literature and media franchise
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Gigantic red dog and his owner Emily Elizabeth
- number_of_books
- 91
Lore & Background
The character was inspired by Norman Bridwell's childhood desire to own a dog the size of a horse. In 1962, Bridwell included paintings of what would become Clifford (then named 'Tiny') in a portfolio of children's literature illustrations. While showcasing his portfolio, editor Susan Hirschman at Harper & Row suggested Bridwell turn his drawings into a story. Bridwell developed a story around the dog and his owner, which he submitted to Scholastic. His wife suggested the name 'Clifford' after her imaginary childhood friend, and Emily Elizabeth was named after Bridwell's daughter. The first book was published by Scholastic in 1963.
Clifford is a male red dog whose size is inconsistently depicted. He was originally the runt of the litter but grew to enormous size due to Emily Elizabeth's love and care. Emily Elizabeth is an 8-year-old blond girl who owns Clifford and is frequently portrayed riding him like a horse. The TV series adaptation gives her the surname Howard and changes her receiving Clifford to a surprise on her 6th birthday instead of a Christmas present.
Reader's Guide
Clifford the Big Red Dog has been a staple of children's literature since 1963, with 91 books in the series, the final two released after Bridwell's death in 2014. The franchise has been adapted into multiple television series, including a 65-episode PBS Kids show (2000–2003) voiced by John Ritter and Grey DeLisle, and a prequel series (2003–2006). A new series debuted in 2019 on Amazon Prime Video and PBS Kids, with another series announced for 2027. A live-action/CGI film was released by Paramount in 2021, following earlier attempts by Universal and Illumination that were cancelled. A stage musical adaptation, Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical, was announced in 2026. The franchise's enduring appeal lies in its simple premise of a giant, loving dog and his owner, making it a recognizable brand and Scholastic's official mascot.
Did You Know?
- Clifford was originally named 'Tiny' by Norman Bridwell before his wife suggested the name 'Clifford' after her imaginary childhood friend.
- Clifford was the runt of his litter but grew to enormous size due to Emily Elizabeth's love and care.
- The first Clifford book was published in 1963 after editor Susan Hirschman suggested Bridwell write a story to accompany his drawing of a girl with a horse-sized bloodhound.
- Clifford is the official mascot of Scholastic Corporation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Clifford the Big Red Dog?
Clifford is a gigantic, lovable red dog who serves as the best friend of an eight-year-old girl named Emily Elizabeth. Created by Norman Bridwell, the character first appeared in a 1963 children's book and has since become one of the most recognizable big creatures in American kids' media.
How big is Clifford the Big Red Dog?
Clifford is described as enormously large—far beyond the size of any ordinary pet—and his sheer scale is a central element of every story. He and Emily Elizabeth constantly navigate the practical challenges of keeping a dog of his magnitude in their daily lives.
Who created Clifford the Big Red Dog?
The character was conceived by American author and illustrator Norman Bridwell, who published the original book in 1963. Bridwell drew on his own childhood memories of a beloved dog to develop the idea of an impossibly large, gentle companion.
How many Clifford the Big Red Dog books exist?
The complete series totals 91 books. The final two volumes were published after Bridwell's death in 2014, extending the franchise beyond the creator's lifetime.
Why is Clifford the Big Red Dog culturally significant?
As the official mascot of Scholastic Corporation, Clifford has functioned as a reading gateway for generations of young children. The franchise has expanded into animated series, video games, stage productions, and live-action films, with the most recent movie released in 2021.
More in Giants in popular culture 1-24
Elsewhere in the Giants in Popular Culture universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record