The Books That Made Me (Part 1)

From Corduroy to The Toll-Bridge Troll: A retrospective look at some of the books that shaped my childhood

A few weeks ago¹ I was rummaging through the storage boxes in my mom’s garage looking for my old Barbie dolls. Although I couldn’t find the dolls, having probably given them away years ago, I did unearth something even more precious: my old children’s books. The worlds created by these books colored my childhood with wild imagination and possibility. Flipping through the musty, crackling pages, I hear echoes of my mom’s voice reading them aloud to me while I followed along, marveling at the stunning imagery and touching narratives.

I’m taking a closer look at these treasured books and taking you, my readers, on a little field trip down memory lane. Books are my greatest passion and the whole reason why I became a writer, so getting to share a few of the ones I remember most fondly is a real treat for me. Feel free to comment below if you remember any of these from your childhood!

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1. Corduroy, by Don Freeman (1968)

Corduroy is a bear who once lived in the toy department of a big store. Day after day he waited with all the other animals and dolls for somebody to come along and take him home […] Then one morning a little girl stopped and looked straight into Corduroy’s bright eyes. “Oh, Mommy!” she said. “Look! There’s the very bear I’ve always wanted.”

When I think back on all the classic children’s books I grew up with, probably the number one title that comes to mind is Corduroy, written and illustrated by Don Freeman in 1968. The book as a whole is full of timeless charm and heart, but what makes this particular story so impressive for its time is the fact that one of its main characters is a young Black girl. Lisa’s race isn’t made the focus of her character at all, though much can be said about the possible subtext of a child looking for friendship and connection in a society that has afforded people of color little more than isolation. At the time Corduroy was being read to me, I recognized Lisa as a little girl who was like me in many ways, wanting something of her own that was soft and loving. All she wanted was to love her teddy bear (something I’ll always relate to, no matter how old I get). According to Lisa Williamson Rosenberg, the original inspiration for Lisa in the book,

“[W]hen I hear people of all races talk about Corduroy the thing they say most is: That was my favorite book as a child! Or That’s my children’s favorite book! Everyone loved Corduroy and the little girl who took him home—regardless of the fact that she was not white. What Corduroy proves is that audiences connect with characters who look different from them, as long as the story is genuine and the feelings are familiar.”

Of course, Lisa’s race matters a great deal to children of color, who need to see themselves in their favorite characters in order to start believing that they can be anything. They also need to feel affirmed in who they are, as they are, regardless of their circumstances. Charnaie Gordon of Brightly writes, “The story serves as a beautiful reminder to readers of all ages that we are great just the way we are. Corduroy, the buttonless bear lets us know that we are worthy of appreciation and that true friends accept us, flaws and all.” Both Corduroy and Lisa are seemingly alone in a big world, where people who don’t conform to others’ expectations are discarded or overlooked. Without his button, Corduroy thinks he is unwanted. In search of the one thing he believes will make him complete, the stuffed bear goes on an adventure in the department store after it closes, and gets to do all the things he’s always dreamed of doing. Like everybody, Corduroy has grand dreams, like climbing a mountain, living in a palace, and sleeping in a big bed. But what he really wants is a home and a friend. A little bear and a little girl find those things in each other in this story.

Jama Rattigan (whose blog Jama’s Alphabet Soup about “food-related literature” is an absolute delight) more succinctly summarizes my thoughts about this book:

“[Corduroy’s] enduring charm for young readers exemplifies what Don Freeman defined as the essence of a good children’s story: simplicity without simple mindedness. This is a story about belonging, being loved for who you are, and friendship. What could be more important than that? And it’s told without a hint of didacticism, condescension, or sentimentality.”

The theme of simplicity without simple mindedness recurs throughout many of the books in this list, and is one that I am increasingly drawn to. When it comes to Corduroy, and children’s literature in general, the simplest message is often the most powerful: there truly is nothing more important than being loved for who you are.

[Lisa] began to sew a button on his overalls. “I like you the way you are,” she said, '“but you’ll be more comfortable with your shoulder strap fastened.
“You must be a friend,” said Corduroy. “I’ve always wanted a friend.”
“Me too!” said Lisa, and gave him a big hug.

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