See Something, Say Something

"He  unbuttoned Corduroy's shoulder straps and put his overalls in the dryer." 
    That line always bothered me when I used to work with young children and "A Pocket for Corduroy"  was a book widely recommended for use in the primary grades.  A popular unit used in the schools was to have the class read the book and then do an activity based in it.  Crayon drawings of little pockets, or sometimes little fabric pockets were designed by the kids and then posted on the classroom walls.  An important book and lesson, evidently, but really, what message is being delivered?
     Corduroy, a toy bear, accidentally becomes separated from his owner  while searching for a pocket of his own.  Near closing time, alone in the Laundromat, he encounters an artist who helps him out of his wet clothes and dries them for him, before leaving him there.  Socially conscious as I was, I thought it was a wrong message for little kids, who in this story identify more with the bear than with the character of the child who owns him.  Corduroy can walk around and can think.  He should not accept being accosted at night by a strange man in a Laundromat, even if, or especially since, he was an artist.  Corduroy should not passively stand by while the stranger takes the little bear's  pants off and then puts them back on.  The manager of the laundromat was there----help was available.  Corduroy, your search to find a pocket could have led to disaster.  Do not wander away without telling anyone, do not crawl into what looks like a deserted bag, do not let yourself be picked up and de-pantsed.   And if anything amiss did happen, and you were afraid to tell Lisa, just know that it's not too late to seek counseling.  
       Next review of overrated read:  " The Velveteen Rabbit"