<Tr> <Th> Publisher </Th> <Td> Scholastic </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Published </Th> <Td> 1963--2015 </Td> </Tr> <P> Clifford the Big Red Dog is an eponymously titled American children's book series about a giant red dog named Clifford . It was first published in 1963 and was written by Norman Bridwell (1928--2014). The series helped establish Scholastic as a premier publishing company, and Clifford himself is Scholastic's official mascot . </P> <Ul> <Li> Clifford: a male red dog whose appearance, disposition, and behavior are based on a giant "all - around" dog . Clifford is shy, gentle, friendly, loyal, lovable, clumsy, well - meaning and helpful . He sometimes gets into trouble because of his size or is tempted into trouble by his friends and those he meets . His size, like giants in medieval legends, is inconsistent--he is often shown as being about 25 feet tall from paws to head, but can appear far larger: For example, in one episode of the show, he removes the top of a lighthouse and swims out with it to guide a ferry through the fog to the dock . The character's name is based on the imaginary childhood friend of creator Norman Bridwell's wife . He originally wanted to name him "Tiny", but his wife persuaded him otherwise . His owner is Emily Elizabeth, to whom he is devoted . He has a mother, two brothers, and two sisters . His character was created when an editor at Harper & Row advised Bridwell to write a story to go along with one of his pictures . She picked out his sketch of a baby girl and a horse - sized bloodhound and casually said, "There might be a story in this," Bridwell remembers . </Li> <Li> Emily Elizabeth: Clifford's owner . A friendly, curious, and helpful eight - year - old girl . She is frequently portrayed riding on his bare back . She is the best skater on the island, and is also very good at soccer . She was named for creator Norman Bridwell's daughter and based on the imaginary adventures of Bridwell's wife . The TV series adaptation gives her a surname, Emily Elizabeth Howard, and changes the background, with her receiving Clifford as a surprise present on her 6th birthday instead of picking him out as a Christmas present . </Li> </Ul>

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