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

Log in Start free

And Birdy Makes Three

Sufficient

Recommended age Unlock

Co-watching from age 2

Stimulating

Exact score locked

Watch on

Prime Video

PBS Kids

Tubi TV

Save

And Birdy Makes Three

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 calm and well-organized.

The episode follows one clear thread: Emily finds a fallen baby bird, cares for it, and teaches it to fly while Clifford feels left out. Events build in a sensible order, from the bird falling to being fed worms, practising its wings, and finally flying home, so a young child can track what is happening and why. Cause and effect stay easy to read, like the bird needing worms so Emily and Clifford go dig for them. The small detour where Cleo and T-Bone practise circus tricks adds a side thread, but it still feeds back into Clifford's worry about losing attention.

The heart of this episode is warm, especially the ending where Emily cradles Clifford and tells him 'no matter what happens, you and I will always be together.' The limitation is that the baby bird is put in danger again and again, with Emily pleading 'Do something, Clifford. Please,' which creates repeated small jolts of worry, and the mood can swing fairly suddenly between comedy and alarm. Each scare is resolved quickly with reassurance such as 'Good catch, Clifford' and 'Good job, boy.' Cleo's jaded advice that 'babies are nothing but trouble' is a mild off-note within an otherwise supportive group.

Much of the figuring-out is carried by Emily and the adults, and Clifford's own worry is settled by being reassured rather than by something he works out himself. There is, though, a genuinely visible learning sequence when the bird practises flapping its wings, then goes 'a little higher,' then flies, which shows a real step-by-step process. Clifford takes initiative by trying to act cute to win attention, an attempt that backfires when he frightens the bird. Initiative is shared between Emily's caregiving and Clifford's clumsy efforts, so a child sees some trying and adjusting but also a lot of problems handed to grown-ups.

The dialogue leans on short, concrete sentences a young child can absorb, such as 'That's what a baby bird needs' and 'All you need is a little practice.' Voices are clear and well articulated, and words are used consistently, so meaning rarely gets muddy. Most lines do real work, giving instructions or explaining what is happening rather than just exclaiming. The small caveat is a handful of figurative phrases like 'What in blue blazes' and 'king-sized canine' that sit above a three-year-old's vocabulary.

The central character is a house-sized talking dog with talking dog friends, so a large part of the action does not map onto a child's daily life. What does connect is the caregiving heart of the story: feeding a baby animal, being patient while it learns, and the very familiar feeling of an existing pet feeling pushed aside when something new arrives, which mirrors how a child might feel about a new sibling. Real settings such as the home, the pet store, and the library ground the world, and the family and friendship dynamics follow recognisable patterns. The strong social mirroring sits alongside limited hands-on transfer to offline play.

More information

Emily Elizabeth and her dog Clifford anchor the story as she cares for a lost baby bird, surrounded by a small circle of people and several talking dogs. The humans on screen look fairly similar to one another, and the household shown is a child with her mother, so the overall breadth of who appears stays limited. Where it does better is in how the cast behaves: Emily takes the lead in caring for Birdy, the dogs each have their own personality, and characters move through a real range of feelings without being boxed in by gender. The most familiar note is the easily annoyed older neighbor, Mr. Bleakman.

This episode plays out in a familiar everyday world, a family home and neighborhood where a girl named Emily Elizabeth does chores, brushes her dog's teeth, visits the pet store and library, and cares for a fallen baby bird until it can fly. The one large imaginative element is Clifford himself, a dog the size of a house who, like his friends T-Bone and Cleo, talks and thinks in ways children can follow. There is no villain; the gentle tension comes from Clifford feeling left out and from the baby bird learning to fly, not from a bad character. The blend of recognizable daily life with one consistent, friendly fantasy idea sits comfortably for this age.

This is an easy watch for a parent in the room: soft voices, gentle music, and a clean, steady look that never grates. The story does real work, following Clifford's jealousy over a rescued baby bird through to a warm goodbye, which gives an adult something to follow. The humor leans mostly toward children, though the grumpy neighbor and the dogs' wry banter offer the odd moment for a co-viewer. Production is solid and calm rather than flashy.

Themes

Caring for animals

Central

Emily takes in the fallen baby bird and says 'We're going to have to take care of her till she's big enough to fly away.'

Unconditional love

Central

The episode closes with Emily telling Clifford 'no matter what happens, you and I will always be together.'

Jealousy

Clifford worries Emily prefers the bird and tries to act cute so she pays attention to him again.

Friendship

Clifford's dog friends Cleo and T-Bone chat with him and offer advice about the new baby bird.

Helping others

Clifford repeatedly catches the bird as she falls, with Emily calling 'Good catch, Clifford.'

Activities

Caregiving

Emily feeds, shelters and watches over the baby bird across most of the episode.

Flying

The bird practises flapping and goes higher until she can fly home with the other birds.

Practising tricks

Cleo and T-Bone rehearse circus tricks, jumping through a hoop and planning to 'join the circus.'

Brushing teeth

Emily mixes the toothpaste and tells Clifford to 'open wide' in the opening scene.

Errands

Emily plans to visit the pet store for worms and stop at the library for a book on flying.

Emotions

Love

Emily holds Clifford and tells him she will always love him at the end.

Anxiety

Emily's anxious 'Oh, no. She's going to fall' marks several tense moments around the bird.

Jealousy

Clifford feels pushed aside as Emily spends her time on the baby bird.

Joy

Emily cheers 'That's great. You're flying' as the bird finally lifts off.

Sadness

Emily admits 'I'm really, really going to miss her' as the bird leaves.

Behaviour

Caregiving

Emily feeds the bird worms and keeps her safe and dry, saying 'Worms, Clifford? That's what a baby bird needs.'

Teaching

Clifford coaches the bird to fly: 'First, you got to just practice flapping your wings, like this.'

Attention seeking

Clifford acts like a puppy to win Emily back after Cleo tells him to make himself 'cute as a baby.'

Helping

Clifford springs into action each time the bird is in danger when Emily says 'Clifford, do something.'

Brushing teeth

The episode opens with Emily brushing Clifford's teeth, telling him 'You don't want dog breath, do you?'

Social lessons

Responsibility

Emily commits to caring for the bird until she can fly away with the other birds.

Unconditional love

Emily reassures Clifford that being busy with the bird never meant she stopped loving him.

Belonging

Clifford grows jealous when Emily's attention shifts to the new baby bird.

Family

Emily tells her mom 'I'm going to do my chores' and the household shares in caring for the bird.

Friendship

Cleo brings Birdy to visit Clifford in his dog house to cheer him up.

Danger

The baby bird is repeatedly in danger of falling, with Emily urging 'Do something, Clifford. Please.'

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.

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