*Clifford We Love You by Norman Bridwell (1991) is timeless. I wonder if Bridwell consulted child development specialists when he wrote about Clifford. “Clifford was feeling down-in-the-dumps.” I found it genuinely unsettling to see Clifford wearing a sad expression. He stops eating and howls at night. The vet finds nothing wrong with Clifford. I wanted to know why Clifford was distressed, but, of course, dogs can’t talk. It’s any dog owner’s nightmare. The children in the neighborhood try to cheer Clifford up, but nothing works. Finally, Emily Elizabeth writes a song for him. A key feature of her song is that it celebrates who he is and what he does. The music and lyrics are on the last page.
