Corduroy's Christmas Surprise

There is plenty to like about Freeman's original Curdoroy stories, about a young African American girl growing up in a racially mixed urban setting with her inquisitive teddy bear, who has a knack for getting into minor predicaments.

You'll find none of that in this book. The message here is basically "while Christmas really is about getting toys, it's better for all of your friends to each get a few toys than for you to ask Santa for every last one of them for yourself." There are a myriad of better children's christmas books out there.

I liked this book for a few reasons. For one, I liked the plot because it had a positive conflict. In the story, Corduroy wanted to ensure that his friends received gifts for Christmas so he wrote a letter to Santa for them. In the letter he did not mention what he wanted because all he wanted was for his friends to be happy. The story ends with Corduroy explaining, “the best Christmas gift of all was that he was surrounded by his friends on Christmas Day.” Also, I liked the writing because it was engaging. Throughout the story, Corduroy and his friends take part in different activities that students may be able to relate to. Finally I liked the illustrations because they were full of vibrant colors that helped to support the mood show more of the story. The big message of Corduroy’s Christmas Surprise is that friends are more important than materialistic items. In the story, the friends were not happy because they received gifts but because they were able to celebrate with one another. show less

Corduroy decided to write a letter to Santa, telling him of the many, many the toys on his wish list. Later that night, Corduroy’s friends invite him to go caroling. When they reach a friend’s house, she invites them in and everyone starts talking about what they have asked Santa for. Each of his friends only named one thing, and Corduroy begins to worry that he asked for far too much. Corduroy decides to rewrite Santa and tells him that he wants nothing for Christmas, except for his friends to get what they wanted.

This book is a good example of fantasy because stuffed animals do not really bake Christmas cookies, sing chorals or write letters to Santa. The artwork in this book looks like it was done in watercolor. The plot takes a turn when Corduroy has a change of heart, instead of asking Santa for a bunch of presents, he instead asks Santa to get gifts for his friends that he would be spending Christmas with. The theme behind this plot is the idea of selflessness and putting others before yourself. In the end, Santa rewards Corduroy by getting him something as well as his friends.

A sweet Christmas tale with a holiday moral at the end. Text is a little complex in this novel and may require the assistance of an adult for younger children. Very fun and beautifully illustrated book to get into the holiday spirt.

Corduroy wrote a letter to Santa saying what he wanted for Christmas. Him and his friends were talking about what they wrote. Each of his friends only named one thing and Corduroy realizes he may have asked for too much. He decides to write another letter to Santa and tells him that he just wants his friends to get the one thing they asked for. He realizes friends are more important than gifts.

Corduroy loves Christmas. He enjoys getting ready, writing to Santa and especially Christmas morning, when he realizes the best Christmas gift of all is being surrounded by his friends.