Tom LaPadula

Emily Elizabeth learns about elections in school, so she decides to have one to determine a president for the local park. She of course nominates Clifford, but her rival, Jetta, nominates her dog, Mac. When it comes to campaigning, Clifford and Emily Elizabeth go high -- leading by example -- while Jetta and Mac go low with negative posters about Clifford. The results and the lack of hurt feelings make it too unrealistic, even for a book with a giant red dog.

Clifford for President
Acton Figueroa
Scholastic, 30p.
Paperback early reader
2004
5-8 years
After Emily Elizabeth learns about presidential elections in school, she decides to organize an election for president of the dog park, and Clifford is in the running. While each colorfully illustrated page has only 2 to 5 lines of text, vocabulary is sophisticated in this early reader, including terms like candidates, election, nominate, and opponent, making this a slightly higher-level reader. Early show more elementary students will enjoy learning to make sense of elections with familiar Clifford and his friends. show less

My kid liked this book enough that we had to get a second copy of it. I think the detail and variety in the trucks particularly appealed to him, and he was surprisingly not confused by the extreme perspective in some of the images.

The Howard family takes turns at the t-ball stand batting against an outfield covered by Clifford and his dog friends. Bat, catch, bat, catch, bat . . .

So much suspense!