A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 203

Picture Book: Corduroy

Author & Illustrator: Don Freeman

Summary: Corduroy is a teddy bear who is waiting in a large department store’s toy area, hoping for a child to claim him and take him home. A little girl does want him, but her mother comments on the missing button for his overalls and says no. Corduroy overhears this conversation so during closing hours he goes looking for a button. He manages to get on the elevator. Then he goes to the furniture department. While trying to pull the button off a mattress, he knocks over some furniture and is heard by the night watchman who finds Corduroy and takes him back to his place on the toy shelf. The next day, the little girl arrives with her own money to buy her beloved bear. She takes him home and sews a button on his overalls.   

Hanna’s Comments: This picture book classic is loved by many, but what can it offer a faith community? How about an illustration of unconditional love, grace, and compassion? There is also the concept of adoption that is an aspect of the Christian scriptures. Consider reading this warm and fuzzy (ha!) classic to the children in your faith community or classroom and exploring God's amazing love for us all, no matter whether we have all our buttons or not!

Publisher & Date of Publication: Viking Press, 1968

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Video, Audio CD

PBT Category: Classic, Award Winner

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, adoption, affection, affirmation, anxiety/worry, belonging, brokenness, caring/tending, chosen, disappointment, found, gentleness/meekness, God’s nature, grace, home, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, love, money, new home/location, nurturing, orphans, possessions, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Love bears (I couldn’t resist - sorry!) all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this to a group of young children who are exploring the idea of unconditional love and compare the little girl's love to God’s loving nature.