Reading with the Girl: Corduroy

I chose this book, because it is an iconic children’s picture book and one of the favorite from my youth!

Author / Illustrator: Don Freeman
Publisher: Viking Press (1968)
Prices: Board Book - $7.99, Hardcover - $9.99, Paperback - $6.99
Reading level: 2 to 5 years old
Interest level: Lower Grades
Physical Characteristics: 8.8 x 7.1 inches, 32 pages
ISBN: 0670063363

Genres: Children’s Fiction

Subjects:

Toys,Juvenile fiction

Teddy bears, Juvenile fiction

Picture books for children

Annotation:
A little stuffed bear in a department store hopes that he will be adopted.

Summary:
Corduroy is a little stuffed bear that loves in a department store. All he wants is to adopted and taken home with a child. One night he realizes his button is missing off of his overalls. He is convinced that no one would buy him if he is broken, so he goes in search of his button. He ventures up stairs where a guard finds him. The guard puts him back with the other toys. Corduroy has not found his button. But, the next day when the store opens a little girl rushes in to buy him. She takes him home, sews a button on his overalls and loves him. Corduroy gets his home.

Evaluation:
Such, a lovely story of longing and hope. Corduroy is an eternally hopeful bear who only wants a home and a friend. I love the simplicity of the story. Another highlight for me is the message that everyone deserves love, even if you think you may be broken. The illustrations are not my favorite, they seem quite dated. But, I do think this book is amazing for having a minority child as the main human character, especially since that isn’t the message of the story. It is simply a race neutral story! Lovely and so ahead of it’s time.

Similar Titles or Authors:
A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams