When Professor Ellen asked the class to bring in a literacy artifact, I knew exactly what I wanted to bring in. As a child, I didn’t like reading books, and so I remembered exactly the small handful of books I did like to read (and reread). These books were Rainbow Fish, Caps for Sale, and Corduroy. Corduroy was my ultimate favorite. I was surprised to find out that many others in the class brought in or mentioned Corduroy as one of their favorites from their childhood.
It had been years since I held the book in my hands, and it had been years since I read it. Reading the story brought back my love for the little bear and the girl. I remember the feeling I had when reading it as a child. I remember feeling sad as she had to watch the girl leave the bear the first day she spotted him at the department store. I remember feeling my heart sink not only for the girl whose mother said she couldn’t buy it but also for the bear who wanted to be bought and loved by someone. It was only now that I began to think about how well the writer wrote the story- so simple, yet so alive. Professor Ellen shared in front of the class that Corduroy had been a favorite among many students. She then went onto to mention about the powerful illustrations and how the story teaches that even the flawed are worthy of love. As much as I had loved the illustrations, it never dawned on me that the illustrations were in fact one of the key components of this book as well as the lesson taught through the story. The illustrations showed emotions and got the readers to sense the emotions of the characters. The message behind the story of a girl who saves up to purchase a bear that doesn’t look new or have all of his buttons. I went home that day to reread this book at a completely new perspective than ever before. Talk about being touched by a picture book!
It had been years since I held the book in my hands, and it had been years since I read it. Reading the story brought back my love for the little bear and the girl. I remember the feeling I had when reading it as a child. I remember feeling sad as she had to watch the girl leave the bear the first day she spotted him at the department store. I remember feeling my heart sink not only for the girl whose mother said she couldn’t buy it but also for the bear who wanted to be bought and loved by someone. It was only now that I began to think about how well the writer wrote the story- so simple, yet so alive. Professor Ellen shared in front of the class that Corduroy had been a favorite among many students. She then went onto to mention about the powerful illustrations and how the story teaches that even the flawed are worthy of love. As much as I had loved the illustrations, it never dawned on me that the illustrations were in fact one of the key components of this book as well as the lesson taught through the story. The illustrations showed emotions and got the readers to sense the emotions of the characters. The message behind the story of a girl who saves up to purchase a bear that doesn’t look new or have all of his buttons. I went home that day to reread this book at a completely new perspective than ever before. Talk about being touched by a picture book!