So Lisa sews one for him, caring for him in a nurturing way even though he is only a teddy bear. This is a good role model for children as they imagine what they should be like as adults.įifth, the whole misadventure relates to Corduroy feeling bereft because he does not have a pocket. This encourages the idea that everyone can and will help one another. The man who works in the laundry helps Lisa and her Mother find Corduroy the next day.

The artist who finds Corduroy in his laundry bag dries his clothes for him and leaves him where he can easily be found the next day. This reinforces an optimism that is good for children to develop.įourth, all of the adults act in responsible ways. This suggests that she can and should trust that everything will turn out all right. Although she is sad, she overcomes her reluctance to be separated and leaves. She tries to find Corduroy before leaving the laundromat, and gets her Mother to agree to come back again the next day to find him. She tells Corduroy to wait in a chair and not to move. Third, Lisa makes every attempt to be responsible about Corduroy. She can make a contribution although she is a child. That shows a connectedness to her Mother and the family that is very encouraging for a child. Second, Lisa helps her Mother do the laundry as her primary focus.

This book endorses that connection, overcoming the stalled thinking that children must quickly become little adults. Children draw great comfort from familiar objects, teddy bears, blankets, and other stuffed toys. No one comments on that, shames her about it, or acts as though she is doing anything strange. Yet she carries her teddy bear, Corduroy, with her openly. Since the story is well summarized here at the, I would like to focus on why the story is an important one to share.įirst, Lisa is shown as being not such a young child. A Pocket for Corduroy was one of her picks. To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute. Intellectual performance will expand as well. With better parent-child bonding from reading, you child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills.

A pocket for corduroy by don freeman