Corduroy

About this book

A teddy bear named Corduroy, missing a button, waits in a department store for someone to love him — and one night sets off to find it before a little girl finally takes him home. Don Freeman's gentle classic about belonging is a beloved grades K-3 read-aloud.

Why widely assigned

This Picture Book title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1960s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and belonging.

Where this book is assigned

No curriculum assignments on file yet.

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Common questions

What grade level is Corduroy?

Corduroy is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3, with a Lexile measure of 600L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Corduroy?

Corduroy has a Lexile measure of 600L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Corduroy?

It takes about 35 minutes to read Corduroy (32 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 35 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Corduroy banned in schools?

Corduroy does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Corduroy explore?

Central themes in Corduroy include friendship, belonging, kindness, imagination. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.