A Childhood Favorite: Corduroy by Don Freeman

Reading List
Written by Rebecca Grabill
Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy by Don Freeman. Puffin Books, 1968.

A classic and one of my childhood favorites. I didn’t notice Lisa was African American until I read it again as an adult, but now I see the parallel between her race and her acceptance of Corduroy just the way he is -- especially given the time in which it was published.

The writing itself is simple, fluid, clear without a lot of splash. Perfect continuity with the illustrations and storyline. I remember being touched by Lisa’s unconditional acceptance of her bear -- that she loves him even with the missing button, but selflessly fixes it for his own comfort. One of those books that shaped my own life narrative.

You may also like...
Nachos, picture books, and a chat with author Sandra Nickel
Nachos, picture books, and a chat with author Sandra Nickel

In this delicious interview, discover Sandra Nickel’s forthcoming book Nacho's Nachos, which tells the true story of Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, who invented one of the world’s favorite snacks.

Read more →
An Ordinary Extraordinary Book About Moths
An Ordinary Extraordinary Book About Moths

I first "met" Karlin when she asked to do an author interview on the release of my first book, Halloween Good Night. Of course I had to follow suit (i.e., steal her excellent idea!) to celebrate the release of her second book, An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth.

Read more →
five picture books for poetry month
Five More Poetic Picture Books: All Zolotow

Poetry Month is coming to a close, and with it I'll share five Zolotow picture book classics. Books like these are "out of style" in current publishing, which is a shame. I'd much rather read Flock of Birds over and over than books about crazy hair or farting dogs.

Read more →
National Poetry Month Continues in Picture Books
National Poetry Month Continues in Picture Books

As we continue to celebrate poetry, I continue to study picture books. I don't think I could count how many I've absorbed in the past years. Oodles? Oodles of oodles? A lot.

Read more →
Five Poetic Picture Books for National Poetry Month
Five Poetic Picture Books for National Poetry Month

In honor of National Poetry Month, I'll be sharing some of my favorite poetic picture books. Beautiful, vivid, delightful reads. Here are five by Cynthia Rylant, an amazingly prolific author with an insane diversity of titles to her name.

Read more →
One of My Favorite Things: Alicia Books by Lisa Jahn-Clough
One of My Favorite Things: Alicia Books by Lisa Jahn-Clough

Alicia’s Best Friends and Simon and Molly Plus Hester by Lisa Jahn-Clough are two of my favorite picture books and here's why...

Read more →
Halloween Picture Books To Die For
Halloween Picture Books To Die For

A round-up of recent favorite Halloween picture books!

Read more →
14 Board Books Every Family Should Own
14 Board Books Every Family Should Own

Our family loves books. And I mean LOVES books. So below I've compiled a short list of our personal favorites. The books we have read and re-read until the covers fell off, then bought new copies to read again. Some are classics, ones I grew up with. Others are new.

Read more →
A Wreath of Hearts: Valentine's Day Picture Books to Love
A Wreath of Hearts: Valentine's Day Picture Books to Love

All the cutest Valentine's Day picture books! Ok, a few of the cutest. First up, Shape of My Heart. Valentine's Day and shapes. I enjoyed the illustrations immensely and liked the educational content. This would be a household favorite, I think, though I found myself wishing...

Read more →
Picture Book Round-Up: Three Fun Books
Picture Book Round-Up: Three Fun Books

Three recent 2015 picture book releases read by ... me!

Read more →
Rebecca Grabill

Rebecca has been writing since childhood, her first book about a kitten published between homemade cardboard covers in second grade. Although she studied religion and philosophy in university, she continued writing, earning an MFA from Hamline University and publishing multiple picture books (no longer with homemade covers) and a collection of poetry with a variety of New York and independent publishers. She has also published a wide array of fiction, essays, and poetry in magazines and journals and photographs for Getty Images. She balances writing with homeschooling the younger of her six children, launching her young adults, church activities, and overseeing a small flock of chickens in rural West Michigan.

www.rebeccagrabill.com
Previous

Fiction Meets Nonfiction: Quack! Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Next

Amazing Books In Which Nothing Much Happens: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder