Just launched: free lifetime premium for the first 1,000 members to activate their account.

Log in Start free

My Best Friend

Sufficient

Recommended age Unlock

Co-watching from age 2

Stimulating

Exact score locked

Watch on

Prime Video

PBS Kids

Tubi TV

Save

My Best Friend

See the exact scores

The review is yours to read. Create a free account to reveal the exact SlowScreen score and every pillar score.

Create free account

This program is stimulating. It actively demands attention and can feel intense. For the recommended age, this may be on the more intense side. The pacing is fast. Images follow each other quickly, leaving little time to pause and take in what is happening. The sound is clearly present and regularly draws attention. The visuals are well-balanced, with a clear overall view.

One clear question carries the whole episode: what will Emily bring to show and tell. Events follow each other in a sensible order, from the assignment in class to her search around the island and her final realisation, so a child can hold the thread from beginning to end. A fair amount of new information stacks up in places, with one object after another appearing, which adds up for the youngest viewers. The cause and effect stays easy to read, though: when the metal detector beeps something is buried, and when Clifford digs he finds it.

Emily stays warm and patient throughout, and her bond with Clifford is affectionate and consistent. The clear limitation is Jetta, a classmate who brags and brushes others off, calling Emily's find 'a pile of bones' before walking away with a dismissive 'whatever.' This snippy behaviour goes largely uncorrected, even if Emily never lets it shake her. The emotional ups and downs, such as her disappointment at finding nothing special, settle by the close when she sees Clifford was the answer all along.

Emily owns the problem and keeps trying ideas of her own: a metal detector, an old bird's nest, a look through her mother's shop. Each attempt is shown and weighed before she moves on, so a child watches her think rather than receiving a tidy answer handed over. Her breakthrough comes from her own reflection while chatting with Charlie about all the fun she has with Clifford. The reasoning is clear and age-appropriate, with the small caveat that the task itself is set by the teacher rather than sparked by Emily.

The dialogue is clear and used consistently, with words tied to what is on screen: an anchor, coral, a nest, a metal detector. Sentences are mostly complete and meaningful rather than empty exclamations, and the talk serves the story. A lot of words are packed into each scene, and a few terms such as 'sculpture' or the pirate phrase 'starboard bow' sit above what a three-year-old will follow, so some of it will wash over the youngest viewers. Overall it gives a child plenty of concrete words to latch onto.

The heart of the episode is recognisable: a school assignment, a search for something to share, and the lesson that a good friend matters more than an impressive object. These situations map onto a child's own world of school, family and friendship. The limitation for real-life transfer is Clifford himself, a house-sized talking dog, so much of the on-screen action cannot be copied at home. The everyday backbone of show and tell, exploring and valuing a friend still gives a child something to carry offline.

More information

This episode plays out on Birdwell Island, a small community where Emily Elizabeth searches for something to bring to show and tell with her big red dog Clifford. The cast carries some ethnic variety, including a recurring Black friend, Charlie, alongside the blonde lead and a mix of classmates who play and talk together as equals. Initiative is shared among the children rather than reserved for one group, and feelings like pride, frustration and disappointment turn up across boys and girls alike. Diversity is real but mostly light: several characters stay in the background, family forms beyond Emily and her mother are barely shown, and one friend's identity leans on a single cultural symbol.

This episode keeps both feet in a child's everyday world: a school day, a show-and-tell assignment, a trip to the beach, and time spent with a beloved dog. The single piece of make-believe is Clifford, a friendly dog the size of a house, along with dogs who chat among themselves, and that idea stays consistent from start to finish. There is no villain; the only friction comes from a boastful classmate and from Emily Elizabeth's worry that she has nothing special to bring. For a young preschooler this realistic, lightly imaginative mix is an easy and comfortable fit.

This episode tells a proper little story, with Emily Elizabeth hunting for something to bring to show and tell and landing on a warm payoff about friendship that an adult can comfortably follow. The hand-drawn animation is clean and the calm voices and unhurried pacing make it easy to have on in the room. The humor stays pitched at children, with only Jetta's self-absorbed bragging giving a grown-up much to smile at. It is pleasant company for a co-viewing parent, if not especially rewarding on its own.

Themes

Friendship

The episode ends with Emily choosing Clifford as her treasure, declaring 'He's Clifford, my big red dog.'

Pets

Central

Clifford the dog is at the centre of the story, alongside Cleo, T-Bone and Mac.

Appreciation

Central

After searching for something special, Emily realises the best thing was beside her the whole time.

School

Recurring

The teacher sets a show and tell task that drives the whole search.

Exploration

Recurring

Emily and Clifford roam the beach, Rocky Point and the town looking for a find.

Activities

Treasure hunt

Emily uses a metal detector that 'beeps when it gets near something metal' to look for buried finds.

Digging

Clifford and Emily dig on the beach and uncover an old anchor.

Show and tell

The class is told to bring 'something you'd like to share with the rest of the class.'

Pretend play

The dogs open the episode playing pirates, calling out 'Shiver me timbers' and 'pirates off the starboard bow.'

Emotions

Joy

Emily says 'I always have fun with Clifford,' and the class cheers when he arrives.

Disappointment

Emily grows discouraged, calling the anchor 'just this crummy old anchor' when nothing feels special enough.

Excitement

The children cheer and shout when Clifford turns up at show and tell.

Pride

Jetta proudly unveils her coral self-portrait, asking 'Isn't it absolutely amazing?'

Behaviour

Searching

Emily uses a metal detector and digs across the island to find something to bring.

Helping

Clifford digs up the buried anchor and joins Emily's search all day.

Boasting

Jetta boasts that her mother found 'the most absolutely amazing thing' and shows off a coral sculpture of herself.

Self regulation

Emily stays calm and friendly when Jetta dismisses the anchor and the bones she found.

Social lessons

Friendship

Emily comes to see that her best thing to share is her friend Clifford.

Valuing what matters

Emily learns that a pile of bones is treasure to Clifford and that he is her real treasure.

Peer rivalry

Emily feels she needs 'something amazing, like Jetta's sculpture' to keep up with her classmates.

Teamwork

Emily and Clifford search and dig together throughout the day.

Bullying

Jetta repeatedly dismisses others, calling Emily's find 'a pile of bones' and walking off with 'whatever,' without being corrected.

Emily Elizabeth needs to bring something special for show and tell at her school on Birdwell Island. With her giant red dog Clifford, she searches the island and tries a metal detector, an old bird's nest and her mother's shop, while her classmate Jetta boasts about her own finds. After a day of looking and a chat with her friend Charlie, Emily realises the best thing she can share is Clifford himself. She brings him to class, where the children greet him with cheers.

Season 1

5 episodes

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog

My Best Friend

recommended age co-watching from 2

Emily Elizabeth needs to bring something special for show and tell at her school on Birdwell Island. With her giant red dog Clifford, she searches the island and tries a metal detector, an old bird's nest and her mother's shop, while her classmate Jetta boasts about her own finds. After a day of looking and a chat with her friend Charlie, Emily realises the best thing she can share is Clifford himself. She brings him to class, where the children greet him with cheers.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Cleo's Fair Share

recommended age co-watching from 2

Cleo, a small purple dog, is given a brand new toy and decides she does not want to share it with her friends Clifford and T-Bone. For several days she dodges their invitations to play, hiding the toy and making up excuses, while the other two have fun together with an old tire. Eventually Cleo admits she kept the toy to herself and realizes that playing alone is no fun. She joins her friends and they play with the toy together.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Special Delivery

recommended age co-watching from 2

Emily Elizabeth asks her giant red dog Clifford to take a wrapped birthday present to Mr. Carson at the post office for her cousin Laura. On the way, his friends Cleo and T-Bone talk him into opening the package, and the toy inside breaks during their play. Cleo then persuades Clifford to hide the truth and pretend he delivered it, which leaves him sick with guilt. When Emily discovers the broken gift she explains that everyone makes mistakes, asks Clifford to be honest, and they head off together to buy a replacement.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog

A Ferry Tale

recommended age co-watching from 2

Emily Elizabeth bathes and grooms her giant red dog Clifford so he can enter a dog of the year contest judged by Lily Lavallee on Birdwell Island. Clifford tries to stay clean but ends up muddy after helping his dog friends dig up a buried bone at the beach. When the ferry carrying the judge gets lost in thick fog, Clifford swims out and guides the boat safely to the dock. Lily names him dog of the year for his bravery, and Emily tells him he is dog of the year to her every day.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog

And Birdy Makes Three

recommended age co-watching from 2

Emily Elizabeth finds a baby bird that has fallen and decides to care for it until it can fly. Her big red dog Clifford feels left out as Emily spends her time feeding the bird and teaching it to flap its wings. With advice from his dog friends Cleo and T-Bone, Clifford tries to win back attention and then helps the bird take to the air. When the bird flies home with the others, Emily reassures Clifford that she will always love him.

Related media

Other series that fit this age group

Jessica's Big Little World

Jessica's Big Little World

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessica's Big Little World follows a young girl eager to do things herself, with her family and toys at home and around town. Warm and playful for preschoolers, with gentle lessons in independence and perseverance.

Peppa Pig

Peppa Pig

recommended age co-watching from 2

Peppa Pig follows a young pig and her family through small adventures at home and outdoors. The tone is light and playful, made for preschoolers, with gentle lessons about family and friendship.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

recommended age co-watching from 4

Puffin Rock follows young puffin Una and her baby brother Baba exploring a quiet Irish island full of animals. The tone is calm and gentle, for young preschoolers, teaching nature facts and helping others.

Carl the Collector

Carl the Collector

recommended age co-watching from 4

Carl the Collector follows a young raccoon who loves collecting and sorting, exploring everyday life with his animal friends in Fuzzy Town. Warm and calm, it offers young children gentle social and emotional learning.

Explore more

From this series Clifford the Big Red Dog

By age 3 years

By platform Prime Video PBS Kids Tubi TV

By theme Animals Family Friendship Helping others Perseverance Problem solving Responsibility

Just launched: free lifetime premium for the first 1,000 members to activate their account.

Create your account

We use functional cookies and Google Analytics to improve our site. Learn more