The story begins in a bustling department store, where Corduroy sits on a shelf among other toys, longing for someone to take him home. Corduroy’s overalls are missing a button, which makes him feel incomplete and undesirable to potential buyers. Despite his imperfection, Corduroy remains hopeful that one day he will find someone who loves him just the way he is.

One day, a little girl named Lisa visits the department store with her mother. Lisa instantly falls in love with Corduroy and begs her mother to buy him for her. However, her mother refuses, citing the missing button as a flaw. Disheartened, Lisa promises to return the next day with the money she has saved to purchase Corduroy herself.

That night, Corduroy decides to take matters into his own hands. Determined to find his missing button and become more appealing to Lisa, Corduroy sets off on a nighttime adventure through the department store in search of the button. Along the way, he explores various departments, encounters other toys, and even rides the escalator.

In his quest for the missing button, Corduroy accidentally causes some chaos in the store, but his determination never wavers. Finally, as dawn breaks, Corduroy finds a mattress section where he discovers a button that resembles the one he lost. Despite realizing it’s not his actual missing button, Corduroy decides to take it with him, feeling proud and accomplished.

The next day, Lisa returns to the store with her hard-earned money, ready to buy Corduroy. Upon seeing his missing button, Lisa’s mother agrees to purchase Corduroy for her daughter, recognizing that love and belonging are more important than perfection. Lisa is overjoyed to finally have Corduroy as her own, and Corduroy is equally thrilled to have found a loving home with Lisa.

“Corduroy” is a heartwarming tale of perseverance, friendship, and the importance of acceptance. It teaches children valuable lessons about self-worth and unconditional love, reminding readers that true happiness comes from being loved for who you are, flaws and all.