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Cowardly Clyde
For a war horse, Clyde is an abysmal coward, but he finally decides that even if he isn't brave, he can at least act bravely.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Bill Peet
56 books239 followersBill Peet was an American children's book illustrator and a story writer for Disney Studios. He joined Disney in 1937 and worked on The Jungle Book, Song of the South, Cinderella, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Goliath II, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Fantasia, The Three Caballeros, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and other stories.
After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.
After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 3, 2020
Clyde is the noble steed of Sir Galavant, a very brave (and foolhardy) Knight and Clyde is a coward, although, he tries to act all brave. One day, a terrible ogre attacks a village and Sir Galavant sets off to vanquish it. They find it in a dim forest, all purple and scaly blue. It is horrible with a horn on it’s head and it looks a little like Mad Madam Mims dragon, just a little. Well, Clyde runs off when the monster gives chase and Sir Galavant is knocked off his horse. Clyde notices when he is in the sunlight. He goes back and faces the Ogre and then the ending happens.
The setting is medieval Europe. The artwork is customary Bill Peet, with lots of character and emotion.
The nephew’s favorite part was when we see the horse and the ogre in the sun and the sun is looking down on the scene with this mean face. It’s funny. He thought there was action and a good monster and he gave this 4 stars. He said it’s a good Peet story.
The setting is medieval Europe. The artwork is customary Bill Peet, with lots of character and emotion.
The nephew’s favorite part was when we see the horse and the ogre in the sun and the sun is looking down on the scene with this mean face. It’s funny. He thought there was action and a good monster and he gave this 4 stars. He said it’s a good Peet story.
January 2, 2023
2023 - 1970’s Immersion Reading Challenge
Cowardly Clyde by Bill Peet (1979) 38 pages.
READING LEVEL 4.5 AR POINTS 0.5
What a great first suspenseful monster story, with a hero, for kids! Not Jack and the Beanstalk, but Clyde, the cowardly horse, and the Ogre. Not too scary…just right to keep their interest up. I loved it!
Cowardly Clyde by Bill Peet (1979) 38 pages.
READING LEVEL 4.5 AR POINTS 0.5
What a great first suspenseful monster story, with a hero, for kids! Not Jack and the Beanstalk, but Clyde, the cowardly horse, and the Ogre. Not too scary…just right to keep their interest up. I loved it!
March 10, 2010
“Cowardly Clyde” is another classic story from the mind of Bill Peet. This is the story of a cowardly horse named Clyde who must put aside his fears to save his master from a ferocious ogre. “Cowardly Clyde” is one of the greatest stories ever told about conquering your fears to save the people you love.
Bill Peet’s illustrations are beautiful, especially of the scenes in the forest having all kinds of shades of green and the trees always looking so smooth. The illustration of Clyde himself is also beautiful as Clyde is drawn as a handsome looking white stallion. Bill Peet’s story is excellent as he relates a story of a cowardly horse who ends up trying to save his master even though he frightened of the ogre.
“Cowardly Clyde” is a great book about facing your fears to save the ones you love and this book will certainly appeal to children for many years. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up because the images of the ogre might be too scary for smaller children to handle.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www99.epinions.com/review/Book...
Bill Peet’s illustrations are beautiful, especially of the scenes in the forest having all kinds of shades of green and the trees always looking so smooth. The illustration of Clyde himself is also beautiful as Clyde is drawn as a handsome looking white stallion. Bill Peet’s story is excellent as he relates a story of a cowardly horse who ends up trying to save his master even though he frightened of the ogre.
“Cowardly Clyde” is a great book about facing your fears to save the ones you love and this book will certainly appeal to children for many years. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up because the images of the ogre might be too scary for smaller children to handle.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www99.epinions.com/review/Book...
February 13, 2012
I can't believe that since I was 7 years old I've been trying to find this book again. It was one of my very favorite as a young boy, about a brave knight and his fearful war horse who eventually had to face his fears becoming a hero against the great monster to save the day. I could never remember the name, only the main story line and what the cover looked liked. It was so influential on me as a kid it made me want to be a knight when I grew up... so when I was old enough I became an United States Marine
June 14, 2013
This is Bill Peet at the top of his game. We have a sympathetic horse, a gripping story, a scary monster, a satisfying conclusion. Along the way we have the pleasure of his art: great facial expressions and body language on people and animals both, scruffy dogs, bearded peasants, a spooky forest, and of course Bill Peet can never resist including a collapsed barn, which he always captures with a stunning blend of emotional and architectural truth. Okay, these are adult pleasures, but it's a great story for kids, too, and kept my grandson spellbound. Bill Peet is amazing.
August 19, 2007
I love Bill Peet & I adore this book -- It's my very favorite children's book and the first I remember reading entirely on my own. It's a great story of a cowardly horse who is forced to face an ogre that is terrorizing the surrounding countryside. Sir Gallivant, Clyde's knight, goes on a quest to defeat the ogre and, in the end, Clyde must take a stand or risk losing his closest friend. Wonderful story - Fun, fantastic illustrations!
January 28, 2017
Clyde the war horse thinks that it's pretending to be brave, because it doesn't feel brave as it decides to make the right choice anyway. But that's exactly what bravery (courage) is: doing the right thing despite the threat of pain (or the temptation of pleasure). So Clyde wasn't simply pretending to be brave. He was brave. 3.5 stars.
June 4, 2009
The illustrations in this book are wonderful! As a child, I loved Clyde and all his cowardly ways. It makes you feel brave to read of his adventures and empowered to face your own fears. Excellent children reading!
December 16, 2018
I thought this was a fun story at first. I loved the characterization of Clyde as nervous and cowardly. However, I do not like the way that Sir Galavant solved the issue of people not believing what really happened in the end. He basically takes credit for it all. What a bad lesson.
June 29, 2019
Clyde the warhorse must master his fear to help his knight Sir Galavant defeat an ogre.
Clyde is a horse with a fearful deposition belonging to a rather foolish knight named Sir Galavant, who likes to boast about his monster slaying prowess despite his lack of experience. When an ogre begins threatening local farmers, Sir Galavant rides off to do battle, but Clyde bolts in a terror before the first blow is struck.
Unfortunately, Clyde fails to notice that he has lost his rider until he has reached safety. Unwilling to desert Sir Galavant, he decides to pretend to be brave. Clyde attempts to distract the ogre from attacking his master, and the ogre chases him. The ogre is intent on his prey that .
Sir Galavant, of course, takes the credit for the defeat of the monster. But Clyde has gained quite a bit of confidence from this experience and no longer considers himself to be a coward.
The story provides humorous reassurance to children about facing and overcoming one's fears. It is a variation of the classic story in which someone who either self-identifies as or is labeled a coward discovers that s/he can be brave when the situation requires him/her to be. As members of the Stark family are fond of saying, the only time a man can be is when he is afraid.
It also introduces young readers to the psychotherapeutic advice to "act as if," which translates in popular culture as fake it till you make it or fake it till you feel it. The idea is that if one pretends to have a quality or ability, then one will actually develop it since behavior changes thoughts and feelings. Because Clyde pretends to be brave, he is able to act bravely and becomes brave in the end.
The illustrations are nicely done. I enjoyed Clyde's facial expressions, which perfectly convey his emotions to the reader. There was something in the way Clyde was drawn, especially his worried look, that reminded me of Ichabod Crane's horse Gunpowder from "Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow," which was one of my childhood favorites, and then I discovered from the author bio that Bill Peet worked for Walt Disney as an illustrator/animator, which would explain the similarity.
The author gets a point for Clyde's name being a pun on the horse breed Clydesdale. For readers who enjoy chivalric humor, Boogie Knights contains the best puns for knights' names of any book I have read.
Clyde is a horse with a fearful deposition belonging to a rather foolish knight named Sir Galavant, who likes to boast about his monster slaying prowess despite his lack of experience. When an ogre begins threatening local farmers, Sir Galavant rides off to do battle, but Clyde bolts in a terror before the first blow is struck.
Unfortunately, Clyde fails to notice that he has lost his rider until he has reached safety. Unwilling to desert Sir Galavant, he decides to pretend to be brave. Clyde attempts to distract the ogre from attacking his master, and the ogre chases him. The ogre is intent on his prey that .
Sir Galavant, of course, takes the credit for the defeat of the monster. But Clyde has gained quite a bit of confidence from this experience and no longer considers himself to be a coward.
The story provides humorous reassurance to children about facing and overcoming one's fears. It is a variation of the classic story in which someone who either self-identifies as or is labeled a coward discovers that s/he can be brave when the situation requires him/her to be. As members of the Stark family are fond of saying, the only time a man can be is when he is afraid.
It also introduces young readers to the psychotherapeutic advice to "act as if," which translates in popular culture as fake it till you make it or fake it till you feel it. The idea is that if one pretends to have a quality or ability, then one will actually develop it since behavior changes thoughts and feelings. Because Clyde pretends to be brave, he is able to act bravely and becomes brave in the end.
The illustrations are nicely done. I enjoyed Clyde's facial expressions, which perfectly convey his emotions to the reader. There was something in the way Clyde was drawn, especially his worried look, that reminded me of Ichabod Crane's horse Gunpowder from "Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow," which was one of my childhood favorites, and then I discovered from the author bio that Bill Peet worked for Walt Disney as an illustrator/animator, which would explain the similarity.
The author gets a point for Clyde's name being a pun on the horse breed Clydesdale. For readers who enjoy chivalric humor, Boogie Knights contains the best puns for knights' names of any book I have read.
April 24, 2016
Peet, B. (1979). Cowardly clyde. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Sir Galavant is ready to fight any giant, ogre, or troll that crosses his path. Unfortunately, his horse Clyde is quite the coward. As hundreds of townspeople flee from a monster, Galavant claims he can finish it off before tea time. Clyde balks as they near the woods but doesn’t want to look like a chicken. Upon finding the ogre, a fight ensues, but Clyde takes off trying to save both their hides. When he reaches the edge of the forest, he realizes he lost Sir Galavant. Now Clyde has to decide if he can overcome his fears and go back for his friend or not. The strength of this book is the message of friendship and courage. One weakness for this book is the character of Sir Galavant. Although he stayed to fight the ogre, it was Clyde’s bravery that defeated the ogre. However, at the end of the book, Galavant lies to the townspeople, taking all the credit and saying he was the one who vanquished it.
I would recommend this book to teachers and students in the intended grade range as well as upper elementary teachers and students. Bill Peet’s books can be used to build reading stamina as they are picture books but are also hefty with text. This book could be used to teach predicting. Teachers could ask students ‘What do you know about Clyde?’ and then ask ‘What do you think he will do?’ It could also be used for envisioning, and students could draw what they think the ogre looks like before seeing Peet’s illustrations. Students could also write about a time that they had to overcome their fears and be brave.
Grade Level pre-k - 3
Awards/Honors
none
Sir Galavant is ready to fight any giant, ogre, or troll that crosses his path. Unfortunately, his horse Clyde is quite the coward. As hundreds of townspeople flee from a monster, Galavant claims he can finish it off before tea time. Clyde balks as they near the woods but doesn’t want to look like a chicken. Upon finding the ogre, a fight ensues, but Clyde takes off trying to save both their hides. When he reaches the edge of the forest, he realizes he lost Sir Galavant. Now Clyde has to decide if he can overcome his fears and go back for his friend or not. The strength of this book is the message of friendship and courage. One weakness for this book is the character of Sir Galavant. Although he stayed to fight the ogre, it was Clyde’s bravery that defeated the ogre. However, at the end of the book, Galavant lies to the townspeople, taking all the credit and saying he was the one who vanquished it.
I would recommend this book to teachers and students in the intended grade range as well as upper elementary teachers and students. Bill Peet’s books can be used to build reading stamina as they are picture books but are also hefty with text. This book could be used to teach predicting. Teachers could ask students ‘What do you know about Clyde?’ and then ask ‘What do you think he will do?’ It could also be used for envisioning, and students could draw what they think the ogre looks like before seeing Peet’s illustrations. Students could also write about a time that they had to overcome their fears and be brave.
Grade Level pre-k - 3
Awards/Honors
none
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2012
Clyde, the war horse, is terrified of just about everything. When his knight vows to slay the town ogre that is driving people to leave, Clyde isn't so sure. Into the forest they venture, Clyde keeping a lookout for creepy creatures. After awhile they happen across the sleeping ogre. Clyde would just as soon walk away and leave the ogre to his nap. But his knight has other intentions. The knight spurs him on and wakes the ogre. Clyde takes off running and the knight falls off his back. When Clyde realizes his knight isn't with him, he bravely dives back into the forest only to find his knight is being played with like a mouse by the ogre. Clyde chomps on the ogres tail and the creature quickly turns to chase him. The ogre catches up to him just as they reach the edge of the forest. As soon as the sun hits him, the ogre vanishes into a poof! Clyde and the knight return to the village victorious.
May 25, 2012
We've recently discovered Bill Peet's books and have been steadily borrowing them from our local library as we find them. This is an entertaining story about a cowardly horse . The illustrations are terrific, as we have come to expect from the author's books and his career as a Disney story writer.
Overall, it was an entertaining tale and we will certainly look for more of his books at our local library.
Overall, it was an entertaining tale and we will certainly look for more of his books at our local library.
October 24, 2018
Ages: 6 - 10
Cleanliness: has an ogre in the story that disappears at light hitting him. The knight tells a different ending to how the ogre was conquered.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
Cleanliness: has an ogre in the story that disappears at light hitting him. The knight tells a different ending to how the ogre was conquered.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
June 23, 2019
Clyde learns to act bravely, especially when he feels most afraid. His [almost-too-late] courage rids the countryside of a trerrible ogre.
Note: some mild name-calling includes "dim-witted noodlehead," and "chicken-livered cowardly big lout." The knight says, "I could slit his gullet in a twinkling." At the end, the knight decides the townspeople wouldn't believe what really happened to the ogre, so he makes up a lie to tell them and takes the credit for himself, when Clyde was really the hero.
Note: some mild name-calling includes "dim-witted noodlehead," and "chicken-livered cowardly big lout." The knight says, "I could slit his gullet in a twinkling." At the end, the knight decides the townspeople wouldn't believe what really happened to the ogre, so he makes up a lie to tell them and takes the credit for himself, when Clyde was really the hero.
September 13, 2013
GR Level: O
Elementary: E PEE
Clyde, the cowardly war-horse, doesn't want to have anything to do with finding the ogre in the kingdom and destroy it. When things don't turn out the way he wants he discovers that even cowardly souls can make brave decisions that can make all the difference.
Elementary: E PEE
Clyde, the cowardly war-horse, doesn't want to have anything to do with finding the ogre in the kingdom and destroy it. When things don't turn out the way he wants he discovers that even cowardly souls can make brave decisions that can make all the difference.
March 1, 2014
Life is hard for Clyde, the horse of a brave knight. But when the time comes, will he show true courage? This is a predictable but extremely fun picture book that kids and their parents will enjoy.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 27, 2014
Cowardly Clyde is the story of a brave knight and the cowardly horse that he rides upon. When the knight is faced with a terrifying ogre, the horse would rather just turn and run the other way. Unfortunately, the knight gets into a spot of trouble and it is the horse that has to set aside his fears and save the day.
Good pictures, good read-aloud.
Good pictures, good read-aloud.
August 18, 2014
My husband's favorite as a kiddo, and so fun now to share with our son. He has just turned 2 but is fascinated and asks for it before every nap and at bedtime. I'm a fan of the writing--great adjectives & perfectly placed alliteration. The characters are endearing. Fun read for both kiddos & the adults who read to them. I'll check out more Bill Peet works having read this fun adventure.
January 20, 2010
This is The Book from my childhood; it's the first one I remember reading. Maybe not the typical girl picture book; it's about a knight and his cowardly steed who go off to a deep, dark forrest to battle an evil ogre. And a fairly evil looking sun makes an appearance.
March 20, 2019
Clyde was the war horse of a brave young knight known as Sir Galavant. Clyde wasn't known for his bravery, but for being a coward. When Sir Galavant promises the villagers that he would vanquish a terrorizing ogre who raided during the night, Clyde was forced to show some bravery.
August 11, 2016
The kids loved this book and were all attention and sighs.
2019: it’s always worth the re-read!
2019: it’s always worth the re-read!
October 22, 2017
This hilarious book was probably my favorite as a child. It is so funny that reading to your kids may actually be something you look forward to!
June 7, 2018
Just because you don't feel brave, doesn't mean you can't do something very brave.
February 12, 2020
I love Bill Peet so much! This will work for elementary students.
February 4, 2021
The characterization is so good in this. The enthusiastic knight, the cautious horse -- it plays on bravery stereotypes in a fun but not didactic or "teachy" way. The humor is so free and silly. I have really good memories of several books by Bill Peet as a kid. Reading this one so many years later, I think I understand why. The text goes with the illustrations in a way that feels safe and as if the author understands and likes kids and wants to make them happy. And like the writer/illustrator is having fun himself. I might be reading too much into it - but that's what I think it felt like to me both now and then. (: It's somewhat dated - i.e. No visual diversity in the humans, all the main characters are male, etc. -- but their actions ring true to humankind.
April 30, 2023
This is the story of a knight's cowardly horse as they go off into the dark woods in search of a fearsome ogre.
My 4-year-old son loves this one. English is his second language. He doesn't understand all of the words, but he can follow the playful story, he loves the evocative pictures, and these stories are improving his vocabulary.
I love this book as an adult, too. The writing is fantastic, and the illustrations are incredible. I've been sketching them out afterwards. They're so cool.
This was the first Bill Peet I read to my son. It felt familiar. I remember my mother reading it to me.
After reading this, my son wanted to read a bunch more of Bill Peet's books, and we did, and they're great.
My 4-year-old son loves this one. English is his second language. He doesn't understand all of the words, but he can follow the playful story, he loves the evocative pictures, and these stories are improving his vocabulary.
I love this book as an adult, too. The writing is fantastic, and the illustrations are incredible. I've been sketching them out afterwards. They're so cool.
This was the first Bill Peet I read to my son. It felt familiar. I remember my mother reading it to me.
After reading this, my son wanted to read a bunch more of Bill Peet's books, and we did, and they're great.
October 3, 2019
Clyde is a horse constantly in fear, but he's not a coward at all. He scared to go into a forest, but juvenile name calling from his knight is enough motivation for him to do it. He faces an ogre and runs for his life, but as the badass he is, he returns, fights back and saves the knight. The knight is an absolute jerk and takes all the credit. But who cares, Clyde knows who he is and doesn't let this bother him. He's proud and strong.
Here's to you Bravely Clyde.
Here's to you Bravely Clyde.
August 7, 2017
This is a fun story with great descriptive words to stretch a preschooler's vocabulary, but I don't like that the knight was honored for lying about the ogre. It was still a fun story to share with my youngest child.
January 17, 2021
This is not my favorite Bill Peet (How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head), but it’s certainly my kids’ favorite, and why not? A wicked ogre, a scared horse, a reckless knight, and all of it building up to an explosive KERPUFFLE! Both kids never tire of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews