MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Mass., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Norman Bridwell, the author and illustrator of the "Clifford the Big Red Dog" book series died Friday in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., his publisher, Scholastic, announced. He was 86.
The cause of his death wasn't reported.
Bridwell is known for his 1963 creation of Clifford, a big red dog who appeared in more than 150 books and was later the focus of a children's cartoon series on PBS Kids.
"Norman Bridwell's books about Clifford, childhood's most loveable dog, could only have been written by a gentle man with a great sense of humor," said PBS Chairman, President and CEO Dick Robinson. "Norman personified the values that we as parents and educators hope to communicate to our children -- kindness, compassion, helpfulness, gratitude -- through the Clifford stories which have been loved for more than 50 years."
The Clifford books were rejected by nine publishers before they were snatched up by Scholastic.
"He's red and he's warm. Clifford does what you'd like to do but can't," Bridwell said of the character. "Because Clifford is so big and also because he's a dog, he's able to do the most unbelievable and imaginative things."
Bridwell is survived by his wife, Norma; children, Emily Elizabeth and Timothy; and three grandchildren.
