For Immediate Release
January 9, 2004
Contact:
Jackie Northard
651-225-6014
jnorthard@mcm.org
News Release
NEW! Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog
Debuts February 14 at Minnesota Children’s Museum
A Big Red Celebration on Valentine’s Day
ST. PAUL, MN—A big red opening takes place on Valentine’s Day, for a BIG RED DOG named
CLIFFORD! Board the Birdwell Island ferry and journey to the world of Clifford™, America’s beloved
big red dog with a heart to match. See Emily Elizabeth™ and many of the residents of Birdwell Island.
Inspired by Scholastic Entertainment’s top-rated TV show Clifford The Big Red Dog on PBS KIDS,
the exhibit offers numerous immersive “paws-on” adventures that reinforce “Clifford’s Big Ideas”—ten
simple tangible life lessons designed to help young children navigate their world: Share, Play Fair, Have
Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself, Be a Good Friend
and Help Others. Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog opens at Minnesota Children's Museum
Saturday, February 14, and will be here through September 26, 2004. It will then travel to other children’s
museum across the country beginning with Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia, S.C., in September
2004.
Kids can visit a colossal nine-foot high Clifford with a tail to
slide down, just like Emily Elizabeth does on the television
show. Children can help fill Clifford’s big dog bowl with
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Minnesota Children’s Museum
Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog Debut
Page 2 of 5
Exhibit Entrance
Welcome to Birdwell Isalnd, the home of Clifford and his owner, Emily Elizabeth Howard. Clifford was
the runt of the litter when Emily Elizabeth adopted him. Much to everyone’s surprise, Clifford outgrew
all the other dogs because of Emily Elizabeth’s limitless love. So, the Howards left the city and moved to
Birdwell Island, where they made new friends, including Cleo, T-Bone and Mac.
Visitors enter Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog by passing a Birdwell Island’s lighthouse and
board the ferry. Children and adults can join “Victor” and “Pedro” in the pilot house and try their hand at
“steering” the ferry. Visitors hear the sounds of seagulls and ocean waves roaring as they navigate their
way to Birdwell Island with the help of a three-dimensional map of the island. Children can move
“tourists” around the map and visit Samuel’s Restaurant, the Post Office, Cleo’s Backyard, and all of
Clifford’s favorite places on the Island.
Samuel’s Fish and Chips Shack
Say “hello!” to “Samuel” and his son “Charlie,” pull up a stool at Samuel’s Fish and
Chips Shack on the pier, and place your order (maybe Samuel’s delicious fish and
chips!). Children and adults can enter Samuel’s Shack and role-play restaurant
employees working together to restock the shelves, cook, clean, and serve. Kids can
grab an order pad, take their family and friends orders and total their bill at the cash
register.
T-Bone’s Beach
No island is complete without a beach! “T-Bone” welcomes children and adults to
a bone-shaped “beach” where kids can hunt for buried treasures. Kids can follow
Clifford’s Big Ideas and “Play Fair” by taking turns hunting for seashells.
Clifford The Big Red Dog’s Doghouse
A nine-foot Clifford greets visitors in his backyard outside his doghouse. Children can take a seat next to
Emily Elizabeth on the giant paws of her big red best friend and slide down Clifford’s tail.
Kids can “Be Responsible” by helping fill Clifford’s giant dog bowl using a
bone-shaped conveyor belt to keep the crimson canine’s giant dog bowl full
of bones.
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Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog Debut
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Emily Elizabeth’s Backyard Theater and The Howard’s House
“Mac” invites visitors to take the stage with Clifford and his pals in Emily Elizabeth’s Backyard Theater.
A giant graphic of Clifford forms the backdrop of the stage. Dressed in Cleo, T-Bone,
or Clifford costumes, visitors can get “red”dy to be the best in show. Kids can perform
for family and friends sitting in the audience on bone-shaped benches. Young children
use their imagination to create their own performance using a variety of instruments.
Children and adults can visit The Howard’s house. In the front of the house, kids can
pick, sort and replant flowers in a flower box. Fans can “Be a Good Friend” to Emily
Elizabeth and Clifford by using lawn tools, watering cans and lawn mower to spiff-up the
backyard.
Cleo’s Backyard
Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog’s youngest visitors will dig Cleo’s Backyard,
designed especially for tots with a soft floor and “stone” wall enclosure. “Cleo”
encourages toddlers to crawl through a tunnel, or play a shape-sorting activity at Cleo’s
doghouse. At the “stone” wall, kids can enjoy activities as they open the doors to TBone’s doghouse, and are greeted by their reflection in a mirror; turn a crank to make Clifford go in and
out of his doghouse; and spin two tumblers to match Birdwell Island characters to their home.
Birdwell Island Post Office
Children can join “Mr. Carson” at the Birdwell Island Post Office, and help sort and mail letters. Then
they can deliver mail and pictures to the Birdwell Island residents’ mailboxes.
Author’s Corner and Reading Area
In the Author’s Corner, “Jetta” invites visitors to explore the Norman Bridwell Art Retrospective and
view clips from an interview with Norman Bridwell. Children and adults can also browse artwork and get
an inside look at Clifford’s character and story development during the past 40 years.
Take a break from all the action and cozy-up for a reading adventure. Browse bookshelves filled with
Clifford stories in the reading area. Our youngest visitors can get hands-on with interactive Clifford
books while older children and adults share their love of reading.
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Watch Clifford on local PBS Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) channel 2, Monday through Friday,
7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum together with Scholastic
Entertainment, Inc. ©2004 Scholastic and logos are trademarks of Scholastic Entertainment, Inc. CLIFFORD, EMILY
ELIZABETH, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG and logos are trademarks of Norman Bridwell. All rights reserved.
Promotional support provided by KARE 11, Star Tribune, KS95 and Twin Cities Public Television (TPT).
About Scholastic Media
Scholastic Media (SM) is the entertainment and media division of Scholastic Inc., the global children's
publishing and media company. A proven leader and innovator in the children's entertainment landscape
and award-winning licensor and marketer of children's properties worldwide, SM ranks as one of the
foremost producers of quality, family-oriented content for all platforms including television
programming, feature films, home entertainment, interactive, and the Internet.
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's
books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining
materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technologybased products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company
distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based
book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail
stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.
Minnesota Children’s Museum
Minnesota Children’s Museum is a non-profit community organization that provides fun, interactive
learning experiences for children ages six months through 10 years. Visitors discover their world through
hands-on exhibits in five permanent galleries: Our World encourages children to meet and connect with
different people and cultures in their community, World Works encourages creativity and problemsolving, Earth World teaches stewardship of the earth, Habitot® enables infants and toddlers to explore
four developmentally designed learning landscapes and Rooftop ArtPark brings nature and art together in
an outdoor gallery. Two special galleries offer exciting exhibits from around the world. Minnesota
Children’s Museum has been providing children and adults with a fun, educational environment for more
than 20 years.
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Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog Debut
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The Museum is located at Seventh and Wabasha streets in downtown St. Paul. For 24-hour information,
visit www.mcm.org or call 651-225-6000.
MUSEUM HOURS
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Monday (Memorial Day through Labor Day and holidays)
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
ADMISSION
Ages 1 – 101
Museum Members
$7.95
Free
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