hlbirk's Full Review: Norman Bridwell - Clifford's Kitten
One of my twin boys, Cameron, that's now in Kindergarten, brought home Clifford's Kitten from the library last week. Our family has been big fans of Clifford and watch it daily on PBS while getting ready for school.
Norman Bridwell is both author and illustrator for the Clifford books, but personally I think he fails miserably in this one. The drawings of Emily Elizabeth don't even look like her and my boys noticed. I can't put my finger on it specifically but Clifford doesn't necessarily look himself either.
Now, about that title. It's bad. It's all wrong. Yes, the story is about Clifford and a kitten, but it's NOT his. A stray kitten wanders into the Howard's yard and Mom says they can keep him until the owners are found. Right away we see and read about Clifford's feelings of this plan. Emily Elizabeth immediately starts doing special things for the kitten, while Clifford looks on. The kitten gets to sleep in Clifford's basket from when he was a puppy, for the first night anyway. Clifford sleeps so close to the house that he actually tips it so Mom says the kitten has to sleep outside.
Naturally looking for attention Clifford starts chasing butterflies with the kitten and Emily Elizabeth. Since he is so big he mistakes a butterfly shaped kite for a real butterfly and he eats it. This is where I say the fluency of the story goes a bit awry. One minute we're reading:
Clifford chased butterflies too.
He saw a very big one.
The picture shows him running after a large butterfly. Once you flip the page it says:
He caught it.
Dad paid the boy for his kite.
First of all, when they first started chasing butterflies they were in their yard. On the very next page, when Clifford catches the kite, they're in a park-like setting with other people flying kites, and all of a sudden we find Dad there. Obviously Clifford feels bad about his mistake and the illustrations bring that sadness through. Being a typical kitten, he finds something else to play with. Clifford ends up copying (which I think is a bad message, as opposed to "joining") and ends up causing some damage.
There's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, if you will, when the kitten turns up his nose at the fancy cat food the Howards bought for him. Emily Elizabeth and her Dad are shown next feeding Clifford his normal fare.
Thank goodness.
Clifford isn't a picky eater.
The story goes on and on, eventually showing the kitten crossing the street in front of a car and Clifford jumps out to save him. The kitten doesn't give a word of thanks, he just sharpens his claws. You can obviously figure out what Clifford does next. Clifford then has another opportunity to "save" the kitten, again without a simple thank you.
The story finally comes to an end when a little boy rides his bicycle by the house. He thanks Emily Elizabeth for finding his cat, puts it in the basket on his bike (oh yeah, all boys have a cute little basket on their bikes **rolls eyes**) and they go home.
If you have a child that likes Clifford then it really doesn't matter what the story is about. Is there a real lesson here? No, not really. Is it an entertaining read? No. I'm not sure exactly why Cameron chose this book, other than the main character, but I definitely don't think it will be coming back. It is available through Scholastic but not on our Wish List.
ISBN 0-590-44280-5
Copyright 1984 by Norman Bridwell.
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