Clifford Endangers Then Helps Santa in Clifford's Christmas

Clifford’s First Christmas is a story that takes fans of the Big Red Dog created by Norman Bridwell back to his first Christmas, which occurred when he was still firmly in itty-bitty puppyhood. That book was published recently, but it is best enjoyed when paired with a more classic Clifford holiday offering: Clifford’s Christmas.

Clifford’s Christmas is a pretty typical book for the series. In simple prose, Emily Elizabeth serves as our narrator, telling us about her ginormous dog Clifford and how she celebrates Christmas with him. The book is more reflective than narrative, though the progression of the season gives the story shape. Christmas begins with Thanksgiving for Emily’s family; from that point on, Clifford finds plenty of ways to celebrate the season, though given his size, not all of his merrymaking works out so well.

On the plus side, Clifford sculpts a charming snow dog. On the not-so-good side, he falls through the pond where everyone is ice skating, ruining that particular pastime for many. He is very excited for Christmas and decorates accordingly, with a tree too large to fit in Emily Elizabeth’s house, while she conspires to do some canine Yuletide matchmaking with a bit of mistletoe.

In Clifford’s First Christmas, Clifford has an encounter with Santa, who helps him out of a jam. This time, it’s Santa in need of help as he falls into Clifford’s absurdly large stocking and his toys take a tumble into his water bowl. This book is a little more action-packed than the puppy version, since adult Clifford is so destructive, albeit unintentionally. The illustrations are cute and colorful, with the most iconic picture featuring Clifford in a custom-fit Santa suit.

“Clifford is a wonderful dog,” Emily Elizabeth tells us. “He makes every day Christmas Day.” With that in mind, Clifford’s Christmas is a book that works any time of year, but young Clifford fans should find it especially satisfying as the close of the year approaches.