Corduroy (by Don Freeman)

Title:  Corduroy

Author:  Don Freeman

Summary:  Classic children’s book about Corduroy, a stuffed bear that yearns for a home and a friend, as he sets out in a department store at night to find his missing overalls button.

Blurber Blabber Review:  Buy it used or on sale.

Blurb:  Corduroy holds a special place in my heart as we follow an adorable bear as he searches for his missing button in a department store at night.  Who doesn’t love a nighttime excursion in a department store?  And the sweet ending will relate to any one who loves (or has loved) a stuffed animal.

Age Range:  Recommendation is anywhere from baby to preschool.  But I can speak from personal experience and say that this works for beyond preschool into kindergarten and 1st grade.

Story Type:  Third person narrative.

Scary Factor:  None.

Reading Out Loud:  A great story to read aloud to your little ones, especially before they go to sleep as they are holding onto their beloved stuffed animals.   

Rereadability:  A quick read, it’s one that can be enjoyed many times.  But it’s a pretty simple and straightforward story, without many nuances to appreciate on multiple reads.  

Illustrations:  Simple and old-fashioned illustrations by Don Freeman, with a distinct old school feel, especially in the pictures of the shoppers at the department store (love the old fashioned outfits and scarves around the heads).  

Medals/Honors/Recognition:  N/A

Published: 1968

Length:  32 pages

(Read on for the more detailed "blabber" review)

Blabber

I LOVE Corduroy.  I have loved Corduroy ever since the first grade when my teacher would read it aloud to the classroom and we would take turns bringing home the stuffed Corduroy toy for a sleepover.  If you grew up after 1968 then chances are you know and love Corduroy too.  If you don’t, then go and get this book right now for your little ones (and yourself).  Right after my niece and nephew were born, I started collecting the oldies but goodies books and Corduroy was right near the top of the list.  

The book starts by introducing us to Corduroy, a stuffed bear that lives in the toy department of a big department store.  Corduroy is an adorable little bear with green corduroy overalls that have a missing button.  In this world, all of the toys in the store are alive, cognizant, and eagerly awaiting the day when some boy or girl will take it home and love it forever (or until they grow up).

Poor Corduroy with his “irregular” overalls gets passed over by the various shoppers.  However, one day a little girl looks right into Corduroy’s eyes and declares with all her heart that Corduroy is the bear she’s always wanted.  Frugal mom though sighs that she’s already spent too much that day and points out the missing button.  Jeez mom, way to be harsh.  Nothing is as heartbreaking as seeing Corduroy, with his defective overalls, and the little girl stare at each other longingly with the text, “Corduroy watched them sadly as they walked away.”  

So later that night Corduroy sneaks around the department store searching for his missing button and experiences the wonders and delights of escalators and beds.  As he climbs onto a bed, he believes one of the mattress buttons is his missing button (do mattresses still have buttons?) and struggles to pull it off only to go crashing into a lamp, catching the attention of the night watchman.  The night watchman finds Corduroy (cutest picture ever of Corduroy’s ears peeking out from underneath the bed covers) and brings him back downstairs to the toy department.  Poor Corduroy.

But when Corduroy wakes up in the morning, he sees the little girl smiling at him.  Yea!  She’s come back and brought her savings to buy him.  The little girl loves Corduroy so much she even eschews a bag or box so that she can carry Corduroy home in her arms.  The little girl sews a button onto Corduroy’s overalls and Corduroy is in bliss as he now has what he’s always wanted - a home and a friend.  Tear! <3

Oh man that was a good walk down memory lane.  Don Freeman is a great children’s author and I’ll be sure to review more of his books soon.  I think this is a book that every home with little ones should have.  But since it’s been around for a while I think this is definitely something you can pick up used or on sale.  For any little one who has a treasured stuffed animal, this book will definitely be a favorite that they’ll remember for many years.  After all, look at me waxing nostalgic now.  Sigh, Corduroy.

Questions the little ones may ask you:

• Where did Corduroy’s button go?
• Hmm, not sure.  Maybe it did get lost in the mall somewhere.   
• Are all toys alive in the store?
• Sure, why not?  That’s such a common theme in children’s books and movies (look at the Velveteen Rabbit, Pooh, and Toy Story), you might as well run with it and let their imaginations run rampant before adulthood dries it up.  

Where to find Corduroy?
Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Borders 

Go to your local book store or library!