5 Picture Books to Read if You Have a Clifford Fan in the House

My preschooler is the kind of kid who loves to remind everyone what the rules are. So, she can’t get enough of the Clifford The Big Red Dog stories by Norman Bridwell, with lessons weaved in about what it means to be kind, share, and help others.

With more than 126 million books in print, Clifford The Big Red Dog is a literary classic. As a parent, I appreciate the way Bridwell (who died in 2014 at age 86), takes his readers on adventures and teaches them a little along the way about humanity.

If you have a Clifford fan in your home and you’re looking for other fun picture books with a big heart, here’s a start:

Yoon, who’s both author and illustrator, shows all of the bright, bold “Found” notices that Bear posts high and low, as he searches for bunny’s owner. They made me laugh! I also love the fact that Bear wears a helmet as he cycles around to post the signs.

When Bear finally finds Moose, bunny’s owner, we learn that that nothing is lost that is not meant to be found. This “NPR Best Book” is such a thoughtful story about love, friendship, honesty, and responsibility. I cried the first time I read this story.

Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes said he wrote and illustrated this story because waiting is a big part of childhood—waiting in line, waiting to grow up, waiting for something special to happen.

My favorite page is when all of the animals huddle together during a thunderstorm. They’re scared, but they have each other. This is a sparse story about being patient and having friends. What I love most about it is Henkes’ brown ink drawings with touches of watercolor and colored pencil.

On a hot summer day in the city, Peter knows that if he could whistle, his dog would come running to him. He tries and he tries. Then finally it happens… I’m a huge fan of Keat’s bold colorful collages.

As it turns out, my preschooler set on learning how to whistle right now, and honestly, I’m still working on it myself. This story it could also a great way to play a game in which your kiddo might copy you, in order to practice his/her motor skills. Let’s whistle, snap, hop, skip…

[ean4]Zoe Gets Ready, by Bethanie Murguia
On school days, soccer days, and rainy days, someone else always decides what Zoe will wear, but today is Saturday, and Zoe gets to decide. My preschooler, who loves to change outfits every hour, loves this contemporary story by author/illustrator Bethanie Murguia. (Yes, we’re definitely fans of pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures!)

Each day is full of possibilities, and Zoe, an adventurous, spirited girl, is ready for whatever it might bring. If it’s a twirling day, she wants her purple skirt. But if it’s a cartwheeling day, she wants her polka-dot tights. Or it might be a hiding day (our favorite page!), which means her flower crown… The clothes pile up and Mama tells her it’s time to go. What will Zoe wear in the end? If your child has a streak of independence and pizzazz, he/she will love this story.

Corduroy has been on the department store shelf for a long time, when Lisa sees him, she knows he’s the bear for her. Her mother disagrees. (He’s missing a button!) Corduroy is determined to go home with Lisa the next day, so when the store closes, he goes on a hunt for a new button.

Don Freeman, who once made a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for the New York Times, has charmed millions of readers with this sweet story that teaches readers, even if something is not perfect, it is no less special.

What books do your young Clifford fans love?