| Title | : | Clifford The Firehouse Dog |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0590484192 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780590484190 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Library Binding |
| Number of Pages | : | 32 |
| Publication | : | First published September 1, 1994 |
Clifford The Firehouse Dog Reviews
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Clifford is a friendly dog, one who supplies love and knowledge to the puny proletariat inhabitants of a small rural town. The more love he receives in payment, the larger he grows, until his owner, Emily Elizabeth, tells him simply to "stop."
But it is never that simple. One can't just halt growth for the sake of the motivation-lacking peasants because they feel like they're not getting their fair shake. It is market growth, symbolically depicted by a large dog, ironically colored red, which helps society flourish. The working class depends upon Clifford's growth and tutelage, and it is ultimately their incompetence which perpetuates this dynamic. They are to blame for his growth and they will bend to his will, because they need him. That's the message Norman Bridwell sends us in the timeless masterpiece, Clifford the Firehouse Dog.
Clifford begins his life in a previous installment. He is puny, but upon being fed by the city peasants he begins to grow to titanic proportions. He grows so large that he must be relocated to a small rural setting where he will no longer damage those around him. In Clifford the Firehouse Dog, Clifford returns to the city to engage the peasant class once more. He mingles with them, attempts to emulate them. But when he stops (working), drops (onto a couch and collects welfare) and rolls (with the pace of government assistance) like the apathetic peasantry, he destroys the paltry vendors upon the street and then pays them off so they'll keep their mouths shut. No, Clifford is too large to simply drop out of the rat race. He is a mechanism which cannot be stopped. Even when Emily demands he stop growing, just as the weak and downtrodden demand an end to monopoly, he simply spreads out, wreaking havoc on the small businesses surrounding.
In this respect Clifford is the Wal*Mart of loveable children's story characters. But he is so much more. When danger calls, Clifford outruns the peasantry to the scene of atrocity. He begins rescuing people before the others arrive. And when they do finally arrive, he kindly gives them their fair shake, allowing them to fail at each attempt to save their peers before he jumps in to save the day.
This is where a potential problem with Bridwell's metaphorical depiction of an idealized capitalist society begins. Bridwell's society is built upon the presupposition that the endeavors of the working class are fruitless. Every attempt they make to save others are met with failure. "The heavy hose was hard to unravel. Clifford gave the firefighters a hand." (Bridwell). This depiction of the working class as incompetent allows Clifford to jump in and save the day, as if these working class veterans have never successfully stopped a fire or successfully completed the tasks allotted to them. The emphasis on worker incompetence allows the glorification of Clifford as a necessary component of the social mechanism.
But is Bridwell's depiction really flawed, or is it a carefully veiled blueprint for capitalist control over the working class drones in society, one which transcends the shallow capitalist fantasies of shortsighted writers like Ayn Rand? I vouch for the latter. To control the masses, the upper class must make themselves a necessity. They must disempower and emphasize the futility of struggle against their authority. They must breed fear and danger that outweighs their own inherent fear the working class has for them . . . and then squelch the greater dangers they fabricate. Only then can they be lauded as heroes just as Clifford is at the end of the book. Essentially, the Mega Corporation becomes a part of the people by being a necessary superior force. Marx be damned. -
Clifford visits the firehouse where his brother, Nero, works. There's some useful stop, drop, and roll advice given, but using this disturbing poster:
[image error] -
On October 12 1654 the city of Delft experienced a tumultuous explosion which killed hundreds and severely injured thousands. The cacophony of cries oozed into the rebellious roars of an exploring gunpowder. The blast left nothing but a hungry fire with a stomach only quenched by ruination.
On October 13 1654 Clifford the Big Red Dog was on the scene, aiding Netherland firefighters in their efforts to quell the still fighting flames. This was a boxing match without gloves and without rules, and an audience that felt every punch along the way.
On October 11 1654 Clifford the Big Red Dog led Cornelis Soetens away from his Magazine to show him some "hella cool birds n' shit."
While Soetens was seeking out the "most gangster fuckin' bird tricks you could possibly imagine" Clifford laid a trap for Soetens' return. But it wasn't immediate. Cornelis wandered astray for twenty-four hours until returning to his place of business.
And twenty-four hours after that, Clifford would finally be accepted (out of desperation) as a true Firehouse Dog.
Let me champion the truth, here: Clifford's coat is red with the blood of his sins and soaked in the ash of whatever hollow pits remain behind him. Some say Dalmatians of future firehouses are dotted black by the burning coals of Clifford's hatred for man, but Bridwell unfortunately did not tap this important narrative in Clifford the Firehouse Dog (Library Binding edition).
Bridwell does however capture fire safety perfectly, and reminds us the importance of always having an escape plan that's both inclusive and an encapsulation of diversity through safety.
4/5 for progressive fire safety policy! -
A great book to read along to with my kids, and to study Spanish on my own, especially the past tense and reflexive. I love the Clifford books.
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Clifford tries to play at being the hero, as he successfully did in
Clifford and the Big Storm. But the foolish canine clearly has a better understanding of storms than fires. -
It's was a great book and I think that this book is a great kids book for kids of all ages.clifford was smart to brake a hole in the roof of the building that was on fire and grabing the water from the water tower and spraying it into the building to help the firefighters put the fire out.overall this book is a good lesson of helpfulness for kids.if you have kids your kids will love this book and they will learn that helping others that are having trouble taking care of somethings is ok to do but sometime being helpful can cause big problems for others so remember to teach your kids to be helpful,and caring for others like family and friends.
also look into other great clifford books and video for the whole family to enjoy they will make kids want to read and watch them again and again.
written by: Nyjol A. Morrison -
I like this book because it helps children learn about Fire Safety as they learn and/or review fire safety vocabulary. It can be best used during "Fire Prevention Week" in October. The color illustrations open the door for discussions about Fire Safety Rules and firefighters. Students can make inferences during a read-aloud. This engaging book can be used to help motivate students to speak and work on their vocabulary.
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Emily Elizabeth and Clifford visit Clifford's brother Nero (yes that's really his name!) at the fire station. Children learn about fire safety with the ever helpful Clifford. I love the first fire safety tip at the back of the book: "Tape the number of your Fire Department to your phone."
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Isn't it a little sadistic that Clifford's fireman relative is named Nero? These Clifford books bore me to tears...but the kids like them well enough.
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Clifford the Firehouse Dog was an insipid children's book in which the giant red dog joins a fire brigade and saves the day. It teaches kids useful advice about stopping, dropping and rolling (I was pleased my 4-year-old absorbed that), but it is a predictable story where Clifford's size characteristically gets him into trouble, and he redeems himself by coming to the rescue in an over-the-top fashion. One wonders how the firefighters would have managed to put out the fire without Clifford's help. I imagine many would have burned alive. He also upstages his brother, who is an actual fire rescue dog. Mainly, I was disappointed Clifford didn't extinguish the fire in the most obvious way... by peeing on it. I mean, he's massive, so he probably has hundreds of gallons of pee at his command. It would have been hilarious after he extinguished the fire to have dozens of pee-drenched people coming out of the building and begrudgingly thanking him.
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In this book, Clifford goes back to the city to visit his brother who works in a fire station. As they get there, a school trip arrives at the same time. Nero, Clifford's brother, teaches the kids how to stop, drop, and roll. Then the fire alarm goes off, and Clifford bounds ahead and helps to save the day. He helps the firefighters fight the fire, and everyone is safe!
This book was really cute. There's not a whole lot to this book other than Clifford saving the day. The illustrations are cute, and the words are simple. There's fire safety rules in the back which is nice to have. There's nothing really wrong with the book.
I think I would use this in my classroom for a fire safety week in class. It does have good tips for fire safety, but I don't know if I would use it as an exclusive book. I would probably try and find other books first. -
I love that this book allows Clifford, a dog with different abilities, to use his height and strength to make a difference. Also, it prompted my 4yo to ask questions about the story, which is a WIN in my book!
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Clifford is a black stain on the fire department’s otherwise pristine reputation. Clifford causes hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage
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I used to read Clifford books to my sons, now I read to my grandsons. They still hold up and are just as entertaining as I remembered from oh so long ago.
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Love
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SM
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Kaya loved this book because she loves firetrucks
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Goes through all of the expected sight gags, but that's not a bad thing. Not deep, but fine, and for kids who love firefighters probably better than fine.
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My absolute favorite book! We read this almost every day.
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Clifford proves to be a BIG help when he visits the firehouse. Some silliness for children as they imagine a big dog helping the firefighters, and fire safety tips included in the back of the book.
