A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman

Enhance reading abilities with an activity that enriches and expands children's language and emergent literacy skills.

A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman

Summary of the Story

Lisa and her mother go to the laundromat. Lisa brings her stuffed bear, Corduroy. Corduroy sees Lisa searching through her pockets before putting clothes in the washer. Corduroy notices he doesn't have a pocket and goes in search of one. He gets lost and

spends the night in the laundromat. The next day Lisa returns, takes him home, and makes him a pocket.

• Read the title of the book on the cover, pointing to each word as you say it. Have your child repeat the title as you point to each word.
• Turn the page and point to the picture on the title page. Ask: What do you call these? (They are overalls.)

Reading the Story for the First Time

• Read the story, moving your finger under the words as you read.
• After reading the story, ask: Do you have a pocket in what you are wearing? What do you put in your pocket?

Recalling the Story

• After you have finished reading, ask your child the recall questions below. Continue to ask these questions when you reread the book, until he or she knows the answers.

Reading the Story Again and Again

• Give open-ended prompts on each page. For example, ask: What is happening in this picture? What does Corduroy do? Do less reading of the words to the story each time you read, leaving more and more of the "reading" or retelling to the child.
• Give prompts about objects or activities in the pictures. For example, ask: What is this place called? (It is a laundromat.) What are Lisa and her mother carrying? (They are carrying bags with their dirty clothes.) Use your finger to point to what you are asking about. Evaluate the child's response. Expand by giving more information. Ask your child to repeat the answer. If he or she needs help in answering a question, ask that question again the next time you read the book.
• You may wish to discuss the prompts shown below.

Building Literacy at Home
Support your child's learning at school.

• Read this book at least three times, following the instructions above.
• Your child can "read" A Pocket for Corduroy to another family member by explaining what is happening in each picture.
• With your child, make up another story about Corduroy. What might happen at a grocery store or a playground?
• Do the laundry together. Have your child help you sort items, measure detergent, and fold and stack the clothes. Recall parts of the story as you do your laundry.

Recall Questions
Ask the following questions to check your child's understanding of the story.

1. What is the name of this book? (The book is called A Pocket for Corduroy.)
2. Where does Lisa take Corduroy? (She takes him to the laundromat.)
3. What happens to Corduroy? (He gets lost and Lisa can't find him.)
4. Whose bag of laundry does Corduroy crawl into? (He crawls into the artist's bag.)
5. What does Corduroy think the box of soap is? (He thinks it is snow.)
6. Where does Corduroy spend the night? (He stays at the laundromat.)
7. What does Lisa do for Corduroy when she finds him? (She takes him home and makes a little pocket for his overalls. Then she puts his name on a card and puts the card in his pocket.)