Raggedy Clyde: A "Sunday Spotlight" Children's Book Review

It’s time for one of my favorite times of the week: “Sunday Spotlight."

This is where I highlight a children’s book I genuinely love, sharing my perspective as both a mom and a counselor.

Each Sunday Spotlight includes:

• a brief summary of the book

• an honest, real-life review

• and simple, meaningful ways to weave social-emotional learning (SEL) into story time

These ideas are designed to work whether you’re reading at home, in a counseling office, or in a classroom.

At the end of each post, I include a link to purchase the book if you’re interested. These are affiliate links, but there is absolutely no pressure to buy. Purchasing through these links does not add any extra cost for you or impact the author; it’s simply one optional way to support this blog and the work I do here.

This Week’s Pick: Raggedy Clyde, by Terrence Hall

Today is a big day as Raggedy Clyde was released this morning! 

Raggedy Clyde follows a day in the life of Clyde, a sweet, lovable, and very enthusiastic dog who experiences the world at full volume. Clyde is bursting with good intentions, but his excitement sometimes turns into chaos.

Throughout the day, Clyde:

• tries to play with the cat (a bit too roughly)

• tackles his owner and others because he’s just so happy to see them

• barks at what he believes are serious dangers (yes, leaves are absolutely a threat)

• attempts to rescue his owner from working by chewing the power cord (surely no cord means no work)

• and makes noise…because of course he always chooses the loudest squeaky toy

Despite the mayhem, the story ends on a gentle note. After a long, busy day, Clyde curls up beside his owner and drifts off to sleep, safe, loved, and content.

From a Counselor’s Chair: Social-Emotional Learning Connections

We’ve all known a dog, or a kid, like Clyde.

He’s lovable, well-meaning, and deeply enthusiastic…but he doesn’t always know how to make his intentions come across in a socially appropriate way.

I love Clyde. Truly. He reminds me so much of my dog, Buskin, who at 9.5 years old is still just as goofy and blissfully unaware as he’s always been. Clyde also reminds me of my own toddler tornado. I joke (lovingly) that my son goes into WWE SmackDown mode on his sisters, and honestly, he does…about 5–6 times a day. Yes, I feel I know Clyde very well.

That’s what makes this book such a gift for social-emotional learning. It opens the door to so many meaningful conversations in a non-shaming, developmentally appropriate way.

Let’s dig in.

1. Social Cues

Clyde wants to play. He really does. But he misses some important social cues along the way.

The cat clearly isn’t enjoying the way Clyde plays, and Clyde doesn’t notice, or doesn’t understand, those signals. He also chooses the loudest squeaky toy possible, even when others around him might not want to hear it.

These moments are perfect examples of how kids (and dogs!) can struggle with recognizing:

• facial expressions

• body language

• tone of voice

• and subtle signs that someone needs space or a different kind of interaction

Skill to practice: Help your child slow down and notice social signals. During or after reading, pause and ask:

• “How do you think the cat is feeling right now?”

• “What clues do we see that the cat doesn’t like this kind of play?”

• “What could Clyde try instead?”

• “What do you think the owner’s face is saying on this page?”

• “How could you communicate to someone that they’re playing too roughly or being too loud?”

2. Personal Space & Being Too Rough

Clyde tackles his owner and jumps on people because he loves them. His body moves faster than his thinking brain, and his excitement takes over.

These little snippets are powerful teaching moments. They show kids that:

• Wanting a connection is okay

• Having big feelings is okay

• How we express those feelings still matters

Personal space can be especially tricky for young children who are sensory-seeking, impulsive, or highly affectionate.

Skill to practice: Teach “body awareness check-ins.” Ask questions like:

• “Is the other person ready for a hug or jump?”

• “What could we do instead if someone isn’t looking at us yet?”

Practice gentle greetings at home, high-fives, waves, and asking before hugs. And, praise kids when they do this on their own, and when they do it with prompting.

3. Impulse Control

Clyde feels something and immediately acts on it.

He tackles his dad.

He jumps on people.

He once jumped out of a car window to greet “new friends,” so now the windows stay up.

This is a relatable example of impulse-control challenges. Clyde isn’t trying to be unsafe or disruptive; his excitement just overrides his ability to pause and think.

This mirrors what we see in many young children whose brains are still developing the skills needed to stop, think, and choose a safer response.

Skill to practice: Work on “pause moments.” Teach kids to:

• Stop

• Take a breath

• Name what they’re feeling

• Then choose what to do next

Even a one-second pause is a win.

4. Perspective Taking

Clyde barks at threats outside because, in his mind, he’s protecting his home and his person. Leaves? Definitely suspicious. People walking by across the street? Clearly dangerous.

He also believes he needs to rescue his owner from working, so he chews the computer cord. From Clyde’s perspective, he’s helping.

This is a clear, kid-friendly example of how different perspectives can coexist. Clyde’s intentions don’t match how others experience his actions.

Skill to practice: Help kids explore multiple viewpoints by asking:

• “What does Clyde think is happening?”

• “What does his owner think is happening?”

• “Can both be true?”

This builds empathy without shame.

A Gentle Ending Worth Noticing

At the end of the day, Clyde’s owner meets him with understanding. Clyde is learning. He’s trying. And despite the chaos, mistakes, and messes of the day, Clyde goes to bed snuggled beside his owner, safe and deeply loved.

This is such an important reminder for both kids and parents.

Life is messy. Kids will say and do things that aren’t ideal. Parents will too. But repair, connection, and love matter more than perfection. That steady presence, the reassurance that love remains even after hard moments, is the foundation for emotional growth.

Final Thoughts

Raggedy Clyde is warm, funny, and incredibly relatable. It captures the heart of childhood (and doghood!), big feelings, big energy, and a whole lot of love.

I especially appreciate how the book allows space for learning without punishment or shame. Clyde isn’t labeled as “bad.” He’s understood as someone still figuring things out, and that’s a message I wish more children’s books embraced.

If you’re looking for a story that sparks laughter and meaningful SEL conversations, this one is absolutely worth adding to your shelf.

If you’d like more ideas for using this book, or need support finding SEL tools that fit your child, reach out anytime. 💛

Want to See a Book Featured?

For “Sunday Spotlight”, my goal is to review 1–3 children’s books each week. If you have a book you’d love to see featured, are a children’s book author yourself, or know an author who might enjoy having their story reviewed, I’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to reach out anytime at guidedbygiggles@gmail.com 💛

Let’s keep celebrating stories that help kids grow, one giggle (and page) at a time.

Click the picture to grab your copy of Raggedy Clyde here: