Homeschool Friday - Clifford for President

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Clifford for President (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

By: Acton Figueroa

Illustrated By: Tom La Padula

Publication: October 1, 2004 by Scholastic Inc.

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Level-2, Early Reader, Picture Books

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Clifford is running for President . . . of the Birdwell Island dog park! Emily Elizabeth needs to put up a candidate for a class project, so of course she nominates the Big Red Dog who's always a big winner!

Clifford for President is an early reader that we were given by a friend passing down some books her children no longer needed. AR Book Finder lists it as a Level 2.7. Emily Elizabeth's class learned about the presidential election. The next day Emily Elizabeth and Clifford go for a walk in the park and notice that the trash cans are overflowing. Clifford picks up some trash and throws it into the trash can. Emily Elizabeth says that Clifford should be the president of the park because he would make it clean as a whistle. She decides to go home and make some campaign posters. Jetta sees the posters and wants her dog, Mac, to be president because "he's the best dog." Jetta and Emily Elizabeth manage the campaigns for their dogs, and the kids take a vote. Before that, the kids see Clifford actually cleaning up the park. So who do you think wins? The best dog? Or the best dog for the job?

My adult brain thinks, "Isn't there a parks and recreation department over the park? I don't think anyone can just become president of the park." But I know, I know. This is all fiction indended to teach the child a lesson about elections and not just voting because you like someone, but voting for the person you think will serve the office the best. I thought it taught the concept well enough on a basic level, even if my adult brain sees flaws that a child would never notice.

I don't think Clifford for President is going to win any awards, but if you're looking for level 2 readers for your child, then it checks a lot of my boxes. I appreciate that there's a lesson to learn, and it isn't just a fun story. So often, early readers have no purpose besides helping the child get reading fluency. There's no reason why we can't do both at the same time. Clifford for President gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Clifford for President? What did you think? Let me know!