Corduroy & Company [Paperback]

Don Freeman (Author), Leonard M. Marcus (Introduction)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Generations have grown up with Don Freeman's picture books, and many of today's parents are reading aloud the same favorite books that they loved as children. In this welcome collection, 11 of Freeman's most appealing tales, including Corduroy, Dandelion, Norman the Doorman, Mop Top, and his Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low are collected in one edition. One story, Gayelord the Goat, has never before been published and is seen here for the first time. An introduction by renowned critic Leonard Marcus outlines Freeman's career and contribution, and an afterword tells the story of the artist's incredible life, from trumpet player to theater illustrator to children's book legend. Corduroy & Company is not only a wonderful book to share with children, but also a fascinating look at the career of a man who was one of the most influential writers and artists of his time.

Don Freeman (1908-1978) was born in San Diego, California, and moved to New York City to study art, making his living as a jazz trumpeter. With the loss of his trumpet on a subway train, Freeman turned his talents to art full-time. In 1951, after the birth of his son, Roy, Freeman created his first picture book, Chuggy and the Blue Caboose, which is included in this collection.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California danceband. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.

Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident; he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.

He was introduced to the world of Childrens' Literature, when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!"

Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear, named Corduroy.

Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popular books for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and the Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low. For more information about Don Freeman, please visit:

www.donfreeman.info

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1St Edition edition (September 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670035106
• ISBN-13: 978-0670035106
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasury Indeed!, August 25, 2002

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Corduroy & Company (Paperback)

This wonderful treasury book contains ten of the beloved stories of the talented and original writer/artist, Don Freeman including his best loved character, the irrepressible teddy bear, Corduroy, complete with their full color illustrations. It also contains a never before published story called Gayelord, about a very colorful goat.
There is an interesting introduction and nice photographs of Don Freeman. Chuggy and the Blue Caboose is a great story about a little snow-plower caboose and his engine friend, Lucy, that save the day. In Pet of the Met we meet Maestro Petrini, a dashing and clever mouse who works as a page-turner for the prompter at the Metropolitan Opera House. The story of Beady Bear is next, followed by everyone's favorite red-headed boy, Mop Top. Fly High Fly Low, a Caldecott Honor Book from 1957 tells the story of two pigeons, Sid and Midge, and their adventures in San Francisco, featuring many of that city's beautiful landmarks. Who can resist the adorable Norman the Doorman, the charming mouse doorman of the majestic Museum of Art who becomes an artist in his own right. Enjoy Dandelion as he gets fancied up for a party and don't forget Tilly Witch, the Queen of Halloween, (sadly, now out of print) but still to be found riding her surf board with a whisk broom for a skeg in this great collection. Flash the Dash, the story of a dachshund who delivers telegrams, rounds out the treasury.
At the back of the book is a biographical article with more photographs of Don Freeman and samples of his drawings for other genres.
I love this book because it collects so many beloved stories in one place. It makes these gems available, preserving them for future generations and is an affordable package that makes it easy for parents to provide these classics for their children. Hopefully, it will encourage folks to seek out the individual story books, too, so they can enjoy the full size illustrations. Don Freeman's characters are so filled with fun and are so lively and expressive, they are not to be missed.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, September 13, 2011

By 

Tom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Corduroy & Company (Paperback)

This book is really cool. I got it for my sister for a xmas gift. It has 11 stories. They are all good but her favorites are courdoroy, Tilly witch, Dandolion, and Mop top. the only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 star is because I wish it had a pocket for courodroy in it too. Too bad, still a great kids book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Corduray & Company, January 11, 2007

By 

M. Donald (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Corduroy & Company (Paperback)

The book is a great collection of wonderful childhood stories. It is a great addition to my neice's little library.