Corduroy
by Don Freeman
Corduroy by Don Freeman is assigned in US schools at grades k–3, with a Lexile measure of 600L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Corduroy is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 600L
- Grade range
- Grades K–3
- Age range
- Ages 3–7
- Pages
- 32
- Reading time
- about 35 minutes (est.)
- First published
- 1968
- Genre
- Picture Book
- ISBN-13
- 9780140501735
Where to find this book
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About this book
A teddy bear named Corduroy, missing a button, waits in a department store for someone to love him — and one night sets off to find it before a little girl finally takes him home. Don Freeman's gentle classic about belonging is a beloved grades K-3 read-aloud.
Why widely assigned
This Picture Book title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1960s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and belonging; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
Where this book is assigned
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Common questions
- What grade level is Corduroy?
- Corduroy is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3, with a Lexile measure of 600L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Corduroy?
- Corduroy has a Lexile measure of 600L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read Corduroy?
- It takes about 35 minutes to read Corduroy (32 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 35 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign Corduroy?
- Corduroy appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Corduroy banned in schools?
- Corduroy does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 600L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades K–3 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: summer.