Clifford's Schoolhouse

Clifford the big red dog is everyone's best friend. Now, when it's time to go to school, Clifford will be right there beside you, learning about colors, numbers, shapes, and the letters of the alphabet. Clifford's Schoolhouse is a big house-shaped board book with more than 60 flaps to lift. Peek behind the multicolored windows of the school to discover purple plums, green leaves, and orange pumpkins. Venture inside to find numbered cubbies with one lunchbox, two boots, three hats, and so on up to ten bones--Clifford's nose is parked right outside that cubby. Then it's time to learn the ABCs, explore shapes, and read some stories (lift the flap of a tiny book called "Rabbits" by Harold Hopper to see a picture of an ensconced bunny and the text: "A rabbit lives in a burrow"). Norman Bridwell's Clifford series (Clifford the Big Red Dog, etc.) is always a favorite with the preschool and early elementary set. Goofy yet protective--and as big as a house--Clifford is the perfect pet (although he's probably pretty expensive to feed). Young readers will love playing school with Clifford and his friend Emily Elizabeth in this simple book that covers all the basics. (Ages 2 to 5) --Emilie Coulter