Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy is the story of a teddy bear who wears green overalls and lives in a toy department store. He is waiting for someone to notice him and take him home. One day, a young girl named Lisa comes over to him and wants to take him home. Her mother tells her that she cannot buy Corduroy and points out that he is missing a button on his overalls. Corduroy watches them sadly as they walk away. When all the shoppers are gone for the night, he makes it his mission to find his missing button. After traveling on an adventure in the department store, he is found by the night security guard, who promptly returns him to his proper place with all the toys. To Corduroy’s surprise, Lisa returns the next morning with all the money saved up in her piggy bank and takes Corduroy home with her. She has made him a teddy bear-sized bed next to hers and even repairs the missing button on his overalls. Corduroy knows he has found his home and best friend.

Corduroy is one of the best-selling children’s books of the 21st century and has won numerous awards. Although the illustrations are more in step with a 1950s department store, this story captures both my boys’ attention and is one of the few picture books they want to read over and over again. Corduroy exploring the department store, pulling a button off of a mattress, knocking everything over, then hiding with his ears peeking out from the covers of the bed is so endearing and always makes my children laugh. This is a clean, classic book that I highly enjoy and recommend!

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1. Which toy was your favorite sitting on the shelf of the toy department store?
2. Is there something special you are saving your money to buy?
3. What are some ways Lisa showed Corduroy that she was a true friend to him?