Norman Ray Bridwell, beloved author of Clifford the Big Red Dog, dead at 86
He was not on the list.
Norman Ray Bridwell of Edgartown, who brought delight to millions of readers young and old as the author of Clifford the Big Red Dog series of books, died on Friday, December 12, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 86.
Norman Bridwell was born in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1928, according to a biography by Scholastic Books. He studied at the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis and Cooper Union Art School in New York before working as a commercial artist for 12 years.
In 1962 Mr. Bridwell found himself having to support a wife and infant daughter on extra money he picked up doing freelance artwork. He considered supplementing his income by illustrating picture books. An editor at Harper & Row advised him that he might find success by writing a story about one of his pictures. Because of his young daughter, Bridwell chose to write a story about an illustration he had made of a little girl and a big red bloodhound. He decided to make the dog very big and more of a general, all-around dog instead of a bloodhound. Mr. Bridwell wanted to name the dog Tiny, but his wife thought the name too boring. She suggested the name Clifford, after an imaginary play friend from her own childhood. With that settled, Norman Bridwell decided to name the little girl in his book after his own daughter, Emily Elizabeth, and within a few days he completed his story. Three weeks after submitting his story and illustrations to Scholastic Books, the publishers called with an offer to publish his work.
Forty titles and 60 million copies later, Clifford the Big Red Dog is a well-known and beloved character to the preschool set.
Norman Bridwell gave generously of his time and was an annual contributor to the Possible Dreams auction, the major fundraiser for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, the Island’s social services umbrella agency.
He was the husband of Norma (Howard) Bridwell and father of Tim Bridwell and Emily Bridwell Merz. A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2015 and a complete obituary will follow in a future edition of The Times.
Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and
Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com
for online guest book and information.
Born in Kokomo, Indiana on February 15, 1928,
illustrator/cartoonist Norman Bridwell has written over 120 books on children's
favorite "Clifford the Big Red Dog". He continues to write an average
of 2 books a year. After being told his illustrations of Clifford were too
ordinary, a critic suggested he write a story to go along with them to help to
sell the illustrations. He wrote a story and submitted it to a publishing
company. Three weeks later, the publisher called and said they wanted to publish
his work. Over 40 years later, Clifford "the Big Red Dog" continues
to "grow" with more books, television shows and movies! Over 44
million copies of his books are published in many different languages for
children all over the world.
Writer
Giovanni Michael Abate in Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)
Clifford the Big Red Dog
5.9
based on the Scholastic Book Series "Clifford the Big
Red Dog" by
2021
Clifford the Big Red Dog (2019)
Clifford the Big Red Dog
5.4
TV Series
Writer
2019–2021
Lara Jill Miller in Clifford's Puppy Days (2003)
Clifford's Puppy Days
6.6
TV Series
based on the Scholastic book series by
2003–2006
40 episodes
Children's Christmas Collection (2006)
Children's Christmas Collection
Video
based on Scholastic book series by (segment "Clifford's
Puppy Days - Clifford's Winter Spirit")
2006
John Ritter, Jenna Elfman, Kel Mitchell, Wilmer Valderrama,
Wayne Brady, Grey DeLisle, Jess Harnell, and Cree Summer in Clifford's Really
Big Movie (2004)
Clifford's Really Big Movie
5.4
book series "Clifford the Big Red Dog"
2004
John Ritter and Grey DeLisle in Clifford the Big Red Dog
(2000)
Clifford the Big Red Dog
6.5
TV Series
based on the Scholastic book series Clifford The Big Red Dog
bybased on the Scholastic book series Clifford the Big Red Dog by
2000–2003
65 episodes
Clifford's Fun with Letters (1988)
Clifford's Fun with Letters
8.3
Video
books
1988
Clifford's Fun with Numbers (1988)
Clifford's Fun with Numbers
Video
books
1988
Clifford's Fun with Opposites (1988)
Clifford's Fun with Opposites
7.3
Video
books
1988
Clifford's Fun with Rhymes (1988)
Clifford's Fun with Rhymes
Video
books
1988
Clifford's Fun with Shapes (1988)
Clifford's Fun with Shapes
Video
books
1988
Clifford's Fun with Sounds (1988)
Clifford's Fun with Sounds
Video
books
1988
Clifford's Sing-Along Adventure (1986)
Clifford's Sing-Along Adventure
Video
based on the Clifford book series by
1986
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