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Corduroy
A Pocket for Corduroy
Another classic is added to our Puffin Storytime? book-and-CD audio package! Puffin continues to update the Puffin Storytapes? audio program and convert the cassette tapes to compact discs! This season, we?re adding another title to our list of Puffin Storytime? Don Freeman?s classic A Pocket for Corduroy . This Puffin picture book will be accompanied by a compact disc that features a professional reading of the unabridged story. Perfect for road trips or quiet bedtime reading, as well as story time, preschool, and home school, Puffin A Pocket for Corduroy is sure to please children and parents alike.
32 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 1978
70 people are currently reading
4544 people want to read
About the author
Don Freeman
306 books223 followersDon Freeman was a painter, printmaker, cartoonist, children's book author, and illustrator. He was born in San Diego, California, attended high school in Missouri, and later moved to New York City where he studied etching with John Sloan.
Frequent subjects included Broadway theatre, politics, and the circus. He was also a jazz musician, and the brother of circus entrepreneur Randy Freeman.
Frequent subjects included Broadway theatre, politics, and the circus. He was also a jazz musician, and the brother of circus entrepreneur Randy Freeman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
March 20, 2009
I wish my only dilemma in life was wanting a pocket.
March 9, 2020
Teddy bear Corduroy decides he needs a pocket one day when he visits the Laundromat. I really liked the story, although it is a shame that the drawings miss color. Too much yellow/purple and black. This could have been so much better, but still 4 points.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
August 31, 2019
In this follow-up to his classic picture-book
Corduroy
, which saw a lonely stuffed bear exploring a department store at night, looking for a button, Don Freeman once again sends his adorable ursine hero on an unexpected quest: this time for a pocket. When Lisa, the little girl who took him home in the first book, brings him with her to the laundromat, Corduroy overhears a conversation that convinces him he needs a pocket. Never loathe to go exploring, he sets out to find one, becoming separated from his little girl, and having an overnight adventure in the laundromat as a result. Will he ever be reunited with Lisa? Will he find his pocket...?
There's never much doubt as to that, in this feel-good picture-book, but that's OK - with its charming artwork and a winsome little hero, A Pocket for Corduroy makes for an enjoyable read, regardless. I didn't love it like I did the first, which was one of my favorites as a girl, but it was still a fun little book, with the same kind of fantasy appeal - what do those toys get up to, when we're not there...? - that made Corduroy a success.
There's never much doubt as to that, in this feel-good picture-book, but that's OK - with its charming artwork and a winsome little hero, A Pocket for Corduroy makes for an enjoyable read, regardless. I didn't love it like I did the first, which was one of my favorites as a girl, but it was still a fun little book, with the same kind of fantasy appeal - what do those toys get up to, when we're not there...? - that made Corduroy a success.
August 31, 2016
I found the original Corduroy a revelation and the sequel even more so. In the first - written in the '60s -- an elegant black woman and her daughter shop in a Manhattan department store. The sequel was written about ten years later, and now Lisa's mother -- still elegant -- has traded out her A-line dress for bell bottoms and the launder mat where mother and daughter go to wash clothes is populated by bearded artists in berets. Although stuffed bears don't change, the world has.
These books move me with their diversity and their kindness. The white department store salesclerk is friendly to a little girl who wants to make a special purchase. Mother and daughter are women of color, well-dressed, confident, and serene, even while they discuss the limitations of their budget. The artist -- perhaps a little foolish with his sketches of wet laundry -- thoughtfully rescues Corduroy and gently buttons him back into his overalls again. And the launder mat owner greets Lisa in Spanish and helps restore her lost bear. On the last page, Corduroy gets the pocket he has been looking for. He rubs noses with Lisa and I think about what a radical book Don Freeman wrote.
These books move me with their diversity and their kindness. The white department store salesclerk is friendly to a little girl who wants to make a special purchase. Mother and daughter are women of color, well-dressed, confident, and serene, even while they discuss the limitations of their budget. The artist -- perhaps a little foolish with his sketches of wet laundry -- thoughtfully rescues Corduroy and gently buttons him back into his overalls again. And the launder mat owner greets Lisa in Spanish and helps restore her lost bear. On the last page, Corduroy gets the pocket he has been looking for. He rubs noses with Lisa and I think about what a radical book Don Freeman wrote.
April 14, 2018
Lovable Corduroy Bear realizes his overalls don't have a pocket. On a mission to find something that would make a suitable pocket, he gets left in a laudromat over night. Nice sequel to the first.
July 25, 2018
A timeless classic from Don Freeman, one of my favorite children's authors.
The plot is the simple story of a little girl going to the laundromat with her mother. She brings her bear, Corduroy, who bored, decides to explore. He ends up getting left behind and spends the night at the laundromat.
Small children have such a strong sense of wonder that a stuffed bear getting stuck in a laundromat over night is high adventure. I know because I remember loving this book when I was very young.
The plot is the simple story of a little girl going to the laundromat with her mother. She brings her bear, Corduroy, who bored, decides to explore. He ends up getting left behind and spends the night at the laundromat.
Small children have such a strong sense of wonder that a stuffed bear getting stuck in a laundromat over night is high adventure. I know because I remember loving this book when I was very young.
August 23, 2016
To check out my review: http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
I wish this book was never written.
The entire time as I was reading this book I kept having this thought that Corduroy is going to turn into Chucky and kill the little girl. This bear creeps me out and this is meant for children. I believe the author could have written Corduroy as a standalone and you wouldn't hear any complaints for a sequel.
We meet Corduroy again and he speaks like it is no big deal that a stuffed teddy bear can speak and communicate to humans. He tags along with his best friend and her mother to the laundromat to wash clothes. The girl puts Corduroy down on a seat and tells him not to move. Then he discovers that pants and jeans have pockets and he wants one. So he gets off the chair and explores other peoples clothes to find fabric to make a pocket.
The girl starts to panic trying to find Corduroy but no luck because the laundromat is going to close soon and her mother has a zero tolerance for this type of dilemma and they leave the store and Corduroy is left behind inside for the night. He gets to explore the laundromat and unfortunately cannot find fabric for a button and falls asleep. Come the next day the girl returns and finds him and they live happily ever after as she sews a pocket for Corduroy.
Can I mention again how creepy and weird it is that the girl accepts a talking teddy bear like it is no big deal? I know this book is a work of fiction but I cannot help myself think about the real world and if I met a talking teddy bear I would scream and panic. I love Toy Story, Ted, and countless other films that deals with personifying inanimate objects but I wish I will never see that happening in our real world. I was disappointed with this book and felt like it was written for the sole purpose of making money from the iconic first book. This is the last book in the series written by the author caused he passed away a few years later when he published this book and I've seen they have written countless books of Corduroy under other authors and I have no desire to read them. Until next time...
I wish this book was never written.
The entire time as I was reading this book I kept having this thought that Corduroy is going to turn into Chucky and kill the little girl. This bear creeps me out and this is meant for children. I believe the author could have written Corduroy as a standalone and you wouldn't hear any complaints for a sequel.
We meet Corduroy again and he speaks like it is no big deal that a stuffed teddy bear can speak and communicate to humans. He tags along with his best friend and her mother to the laundromat to wash clothes. The girl puts Corduroy down on a seat and tells him not to move. Then he discovers that pants and jeans have pockets and he wants one. So he gets off the chair and explores other peoples clothes to find fabric to make a pocket.
The girl starts to panic trying to find Corduroy but no luck because the laundromat is going to close soon and her mother has a zero tolerance for this type of dilemma and they leave the store and Corduroy is left behind inside for the night. He gets to explore the laundromat and unfortunately cannot find fabric for a button and falls asleep. Come the next day the girl returns and finds him and they live happily ever after as she sews a pocket for Corduroy.
Can I mention again how creepy and weird it is that the girl accepts a talking teddy bear like it is no big deal? I know this book is a work of fiction but I cannot help myself think about the real world and if I met a talking teddy bear I would scream and panic. I love Toy Story, Ted, and countless other films that deals with personifying inanimate objects but I wish I will never see that happening in our real world. I was disappointed with this book and felt like it was written for the sole purpose of making money from the iconic first book. This is the last book in the series written by the author caused he passed away a few years later when he published this book and I've seen they have written countless books of Corduroy under other authors and I have no desire to read them. Until next time...
November 4, 2022
My mom used to read these to me as a child. Corduroy was always a favorite.
January 17, 2026
Yeah counting the books I read to my nephews bc why tf not. Anyways plot lost me a lil. Weird naked bear that picks and chooses when it has agency? Okurrr
September 17, 2017
I liked the diversity in this book. It wasn't in your face, it just was. The human characters were likable and the reader could relate to their feelings and actions. The colors, patterns and textures depicted in the drawings encourage the reader to stop and examine them. This adds to the story. I wasn't as drawn to the character of Corduroy. If not for the supporting characters and the well done drawings I would have given this a 3 rating. I found the supporting characters more likable and inspiring than the bear.
This story encourages us to look for beauty in the world around us and let it inspire you. If you don't notice it in the colors and textures or in the the beauty of the how the characters are drawn in relation to each other, the artist comes right out and says it, " This would make a wonderful painting!...I can hardly wait to get back to my studio." Corduroy is a creative thinker and finds inspiration in laundry soap, bags of wash and laundry baskets.
It is a caring story. Lisa cares for Corduroy, Lisa's mother cares for her, the artist takes care of Corduroy and the manager is helpful to Lisa when finding Corduroy. Corduroy, well, he wants a pocket. Which he gets in the end. One with his name in it.
I would use this to inspire creativity in young children and to remind them to always let an adult know where they are. It would make a nice lead in to an art project or a safety lesson.
This story encourages us to look for beauty in the world around us and let it inspire you. If you don't notice it in the colors and textures or in the the beauty of the how the characters are drawn in relation to each other, the artist comes right out and says it, " This would make a wonderful painting!...I can hardly wait to get back to my studio." Corduroy is a creative thinker and finds inspiration in laundry soap, bags of wash and laundry baskets.
It is a caring story. Lisa cares for Corduroy, Lisa's mother cares for her, the artist takes care of Corduroy and the manager is helpful to Lisa when finding Corduroy. Corduroy, well, he wants a pocket. Which he gets in the end. One with his name in it.
I would use this to inspire creativity in young children and to remind them to always let an adult know where they are. It would make a nice lead in to an art project or a safety lesson.
May 9, 2009
This was my favorite book when I was a child. Our library had two copies and I would return one and run to the shelves to get the other. The library started hiding a copy for me so there would always be one available to me, otherwise there were tears. Now I own two copies. And a bear.
February 14, 2024
This is basically a nightmare scenario.
February 12, 2024
Just after reading Corduroy last night, Vanessa and I went on to read A Pocket for Corduroy!
I loved reading this book together so much! I definitely don't think I had read it before last night. The setting (a laundromat!), the cast of characters (such a diverse smattering of city folk!), and the storyline. And of course- darling Corduroy himself.
I liked this one so much - especially the pivot from Corduroy's refrain of "I've always wanted to..." into "I've *never* wanted to..." when he is briefly incarcerated inside a laundry cart!
Corduroy and Vanessa definitely share their mischievous natures.
I loved reading this book together so much! I definitely don't think I had read it before last night. The setting (a laundromat!), the cast of characters (such a diverse smattering of city folk!), and the storyline. And of course- darling Corduroy himself.
I liked this one so much - especially the pivot from Corduroy's refrain of "I've always wanted to..." into "I've *never* wanted to..." when he is briefly incarcerated inside a laundry cart!
Corduroy and Vanessa definitely share their mischievous natures.
June 15, 2022
Ahh, this was adorable! I love Corduroy. <3
October 23, 2019
I read this book to my child as it was listed on a homeschool study unit I have been following.
Corduroy lives in the big city with his person, Lisa. Lisa tells Corduroy to stay put in a chair but he doesn't listen. He gets the idea that he needs a pocket and decides to look around the laundromat for one. What he finds is a bag of wet clothes and he is almost put into a dryer. After spending the night alone in the laundromat, Corduroy is reunited with Lisa the next morning.
My child didn't really take to this story so much. We talked about big cities and how people live in apartments that don't have a washer and dryer. I don't think she got this concept. The story also has some bigger words. We had a worksheet that was cut and paste for some of the vocabulary words in the book. That was enjoyable. We also discussed cultural differences and occupations of people. Lastly, we tried doing a load of laundry at our house and this was fun.
I would recommend this story for children who would be interested in learning about how to live in a big city with a lot of different people. The book shows diversity very well. Perhaps, the age of the book could be moved to up to 8. I don't think this story would be limited to just pre-schoolers.
Corduroy lives in the big city with his person, Lisa. Lisa tells Corduroy to stay put in a chair but he doesn't listen. He gets the idea that he needs a pocket and decides to look around the laundromat for one. What he finds is a bag of wet clothes and he is almost put into a dryer. After spending the night alone in the laundromat, Corduroy is reunited with Lisa the next morning.
My child didn't really take to this story so much. We talked about big cities and how people live in apartments that don't have a washer and dryer. I don't think she got this concept. The story also has some bigger words. We had a worksheet that was cut and paste for some of the vocabulary words in the book. That was enjoyable. We also discussed cultural differences and occupations of people. Lastly, we tried doing a load of laundry at our house and this was fun.
I would recommend this story for children who would be interested in learning about how to live in a big city with a lot of different people. The book shows diversity very well. Perhaps, the age of the book could be moved to up to 8. I don't think this story would be limited to just pre-schoolers.
March 21, 2017
I don't know how many times I have read this book but it is probably the best book I have ever received (along with Are You My Mother). In fact, this is the first book I ever read. I remember the day my kindergarten teacher handed everyone a copy of the book, a pair of scissors and a glue stick. In retrospect, they probably shouldn't have given children a book and scissors at the same time, but no matter. I asked my mother to read it to me every night until I had mesmerized the story (which I did because I wanted people to think that I was capable of reading such an amazing book on my own). I still own the book and likely will for the rest of my life. (I also still have that pair of scissors and only recently threw away the glue stick).
June 22, 2015
One day while at the laundromat, teddy bear Corduroy decides he needs a pocket. His search for one introduces him to some strange new things. Can he find a pocket? Will Lisa be able to find him?
Even as a kid, I liked this book more than Corduroy’s first adventure. I think it’s because of the creativity. We know what Corduroy finds along his way, but his explanations for them are creative, logical, and fun. The illustrations capture the book perfectly, and will please kids and parents alike. This is one all ages can enjoy.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Even as a kid, I liked this book more than Corduroy’s first adventure. I think it’s because of the creativity. We know what Corduroy finds along his way, but his explanations for them are creative, logical, and fun. The illustrations capture the book perfectly, and will please kids and parents alike. This is one all ages can enjoy.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 18, 2011
I always wondered why the little stuffed Corduroy bears have those purple pockets, and now I know! In this book, Lisa and her mother take Corduroy to the laundromat where the curious bear wanders off and gets lost. When Lisa finds him, he tells her he wants a pocket, and she promptly obliges by sewing on a purple one.
August 29, 2019
I enjoyed this books story line and plot, however I wasn't big on the graphics. I thought it had a problem and a resolution which can teach kids that theres always a way to solve their problems. I can see myself reading this book to my future class because it has a lesson to go along with it, and who doesn't love Corduroy.
May 8, 2020
As cute as ever. My daughter said the little girl’s mom looked like “a pop star.” I told her everyone looked like that in the 70s.
October 30, 2023
I remember loving this book as a child, and it holds up well. My daughter also really likes the Corduroy books, and she enjoyed it.
April 1, 2025
Perseverance and problem solving in a diverse neighborhood. Did the first book have this many cultures represented by the clothing of characters? I love it.
March 6, 2022
Such a heartwarming classic
January 1, 2025
LESS SAD BUT GIVE MY GUY A BREAK.
January 11, 2022
LOVE THIS AND SO CUTEEEEEEEEEE
April 17, 2018
A Pocket for Corduroy is a story about a teddy bear named Corduroy and Lisa, the little girl who owns him. One day Lisa and her mother go the laundromat and Corduroy goes to because Lisa brings him everywhere. When doing their laundry, Corduroy hears Lisa'a mother asking her to check her pockets before they put her clothes in the wash. Corduroy notices that he does not have pockets and he becomes very intrigued and decides that he wants a pocket on his overalls. He wanders around the laundromat looking for materials to make a pocket and he loses Lisa. Lisa leaves the laundromat without Corduroy and Corduroy ends up staying at the laundromat over night. Lisa become very worried about Corduroy and her mother assures her that they will look for him in the morning. Corduroy gets himself into some sticky situations as he explores the laundromat all night. In the morning the man who works at the laundromat finds Corduroy in a basket of clothes. That same morning Lisa and her mother come looking for Corduroy and the man give him back to Lisa. Corduroy expresses to Lisa that he was just looking to have a pocket and that is how they got separated the day before. Lisa say that she will make Corduroy a pocket and she does. Corduroy and Lisa are both very happy in the end.
This story has strengths and weaknesses. The strengths of this story are that its theme is about true friendship which can be very useful in the classroom for teaching children about being a sincere friend to one another. However the weaknesses of this book are that the ending is not as great as it could be and it just wraps up very quickly. The author should have elaborated more on theme of friendship in the end.
This story has strengths and weaknesses. The strengths of this story are that its theme is about true friendship which can be very useful in the classroom for teaching children about being a sincere friend to one another. However the weaknesses of this book are that the ending is not as great as it could be and it just wraps up very quickly. The author should have elaborated more on theme of friendship in the end.
March 6, 2018
Summary: In A Pocket for Corduroy, Corduroy is taken on an adventure when his best friend Lisa leaves him at a laundromat. Corduroy was accompanying Lisa and her mother on their outing, but while waiting for them realizes that the overalls he wears does not have a pocket! He then leaves his waiting spot in search of the perfect pocket, but get tangles in some mischief along the way.
Major Themes: One theme for children that this book covers is why is it important to listen when someone in charge tells you something to do. Another theme that could be studied is optimism and how to be creative in any situation you might find yourself in.
Star Rating: 5 stars
Personal Response: I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of simpler times when I was a child. I think this book could be enjoyed by young children and readers up to the first grade. It is a book definitely written for younger audiences, but can truly put a smile on any reader's face - as it did on mine.
Why I Recommend this Book: I recommend this book, because it reminds us that even old children's books can still be esteemed as good literature and cultivate good conversation in the classroom today. The way that this book is written in a bright and cheerful way I believe allows it to be a book that should always remain a staple on children's bookshelves even still to this day.
Major Themes: One theme for children that this book covers is why is it important to listen when someone in charge tells you something to do. Another theme that could be studied is optimism and how to be creative in any situation you might find yourself in.
Star Rating: 5 stars
Personal Response: I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of simpler times when I was a child. I think this book could be enjoyed by young children and readers up to the first grade. It is a book definitely written for younger audiences, but can truly put a smile on any reader's face - as it did on mine.
Why I Recommend this Book: I recommend this book, because it reminds us that even old children's books can still be esteemed as good literature and cultivate good conversation in the classroom today. The way that this book is written in a bright and cheerful way I believe allows it to be a book that should always remain a staple on children's bookshelves even still to this day.
March 2, 2019
Review: I gave it 5 stars because it so detailed and imaginative. I think it gets children thinking about their toys and how they make them talk as well. The pictures and the text go hand in hand. The artistic elements add a lot more detail to the texts. This would be a book to read to students instead of them reading by themselves.
Summary: Lisa and her mother are at the laundromat which is very busy at the time. Lisa brought her teddy bear corduroy while she helped her mother do laundry. Corduroy slides off the chair to go find something to make himself pockets. Lisa started looking for her bear because he was gone and the laundromat is closing. Lisa left corduroy there at the laundromat, he was then tossed into a drier with a young man's clothes. Corduroy fell out before the washer started and the young man undressed the bear and dried his clothing. After everyone left he played with some soap flakes and landed into a laundry basket, which he then fell asleep in. Lisa went to the laundry mat in the morning looking for her bear, when she found him in the laundry basket she asked him why didn't he just tell her that he wanted a pocket. They rushed home and she made him a pocket.
Summary: Lisa and her mother are at the laundromat which is very busy at the time. Lisa brought her teddy bear corduroy while she helped her mother do laundry. Corduroy slides off the chair to go find something to make himself pockets. Lisa started looking for her bear because he was gone and the laundromat is closing. Lisa left corduroy there at the laundromat, he was then tossed into a drier with a young man's clothes. Corduroy fell out before the washer started and the young man undressed the bear and dried his clothing. After everyone left he played with some soap flakes and landed into a laundry basket, which he then fell asleep in. Lisa went to the laundry mat in the morning looking for her bear, when she found him in the laundry basket she asked him why didn't he just tell her that he wanted a pocket. They rushed home and she made him a pocket.
October 1, 2019
Lisa brings her stuffed bear, Corduroy with her everywhere she goes, and in this edition of Corduroy Lisa and her mother take a trip to the laundromat and bring along Corduroy! When Corduroy sees Lisa checking in each of her pockets before she puts her clothes in the washer, Corduroy notices something. Corduroy doesn't have a pocket! Lisa told Corduroy to stay put while she was unloading her laundry into the machine, but Corduroy decides to begin searching for his very own pocket! In the midst of his search he gets lost, closing time is approaching and Lisa notices her best friend Corduroy is suddenly missing! Her mother says Lisa we must be getting home since the laundromat will be closing. So Corduroy spends the night in the laundromat, all by himself. Corduroy has his own adventures in the laundromat that night, but misses Lisa very much. The next day Lisa returns, takes him home, and makes him a pocket in which she places a card with Corduroys name and owner on it, so that he is never lost again!
November 19, 2019
A Pocket for Corduroy tells the story of the same lovable bear only this time, he is looking for something different. Lisa, her mother, and Corduroy all go to the laundromat and Corduroy realizes his desire to have a pocket sewed into his overalls. Even though he is told not to go anywhere he starts to search for potential pockets and gets lost on the way. He almost spends the night in the laundromat until Lisa comes back to search for him. In the end, she asks Corduroy why he took off and he replied that he only wanted to search for his very own pocket. Lisa takes Corduroy home and sews him a pocket. This story is enjoyable for young children because it tells a story of the same and familiar bear. They will have a wonderful time reading yet another story about Corduroy and the adventures he endures. The story also teaches young children that rules are important and they should listen to their parents or guardians, if they do not there might be consequences. This important message is portrayed through a lovable and memorable story that children will love reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews