Corduroy

Author: Don Freeman

First line: Corduroy is a bear who once lived in the toy department of a big store.

Why you should read this book: This is the enduring classic children's story of a bear in search of a home. When a little girl finally wants to adopt him, her mother points out that Corduroy is missing a button off his overalls, and the bear sets out through the mall in search of his missing property. In the end, he is well-dressed and well-loved, in a tale that has delighted young readers for forty years.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You could never love a teddy with a missing button.