Sometimes Mommy wants to cry - sometimes Mommy wants a ba-ba, you know? You know, and you should love your hair, you should love your beauty, and then sometimes you're going to have challenges in that, you know.About the Book 'A winning, completely childlike picture book in which a stuffed bear waiting hopefully in a toy department finds a home with a little girl. I tell her that all the time, even about her feelings. And that's what I want my daughter to feel, too. I sort of have to represent a social statement or an idea in order for people to say, 'Oh, that's why she's in it.' No one really actually thinks about just sitting with me - that I'm just a person.Īnd that's what I loved about the book even when I first read it - that Lisa is just the character in the book. I mean, oftentimes in my life, even sometimes when I do movies or even a TV show, it's like you've got to justify my presence.

On the fact that Lisa and her mom are black I love the journey and the attempt to take what is burgeoning in you, that gives you so much joy in creating a life, you know, even if it's in your room, that's alive. But the fact that she has a doll that is a reflection of her - I just love when the imagination becomes reality. I always had white dolls, you know, which is - nothing wrong with that I love my dolls. I never knew that that was even a choice when I was growing up. Well, the message, first of all, is: Lisa has created a world that is a reflection of her. On the final scene of the book, where Lisa has built a miniature stage for Corduroy, and she plays with a little doll who looks exactly like her The fact that Lisa's African-American and her mom - it's her way of knowing that she's a part of something. That's what it is, a sense of worthiness. I want her to actually feel a sense of worthiness.

I don't want her to have an experience like mine, which was: I had to escape to be feeling like I was in the story. And soon as I start a story, I'll say, 'Genesis, once upon a time.' She said, 'Put me in a story mommy! I want to be in a story!' And I think that's why Corduroy and writing this book has played such a large role, because I want her to be included in the story. I guess because with my daughter, I make up stories with her too at night. It was, every step of the way, she was just in it. I don't know what part she loved the best - the button on the overalls, or Lisa and their friendship (she loved that), the nightwatchman in the department store. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title Corduroy Takes A Bow Author Viola Davis

Corduroy books by don freeman