Joseph had a Little Overcoat
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Taback,
Simms. 1999. Joseph had a little overcoat. Ill. by Simms Taback. New
York, NY: Viking. ISBN 9780670878550
- PLOT SUMMARY
In this
story, adapted from a Yiddish folk song, a man named Joseph takes his “old and
worn” garments and makes something new out of them. He begins with an overcoat,
that turns into a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and a
button. When he loses the button, he makes a book recounting these events emphasizing
that “you can always make something out of nothing.”
- CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story is very simple and easy to retell.
Young readers will quickly catch on to the repetition “Joseph had…” “It was old
and worn” “So he made…” There is no clear representation of good and evil in
this folktale. The message shared by Joseph is what’s good. “You can always
make something out of nothing”. This moral is shared creatively and simply. The
song at the end adds to the cultural element of the story.
The
illustrations are remarkable. They captivate the reader with their vibrant colors
and varying textures. There are also fascinating elements like actual
photographs and small text framed throughout. The cutouts add another captivating
component, and the overall outcome is a picture book that is easy to enjoy
repeatedly.
- REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
ALA
Notable Children's Book
Caldecott
Medal Award
Reviewed
in Booklist: “This newly illustrated version of a book Taback first
published in 1977 is a true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the
typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch
of fabric. Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with
warmth, humor, and humanity.”
Starred
review in Library Talk: “Based on a Yiddish folk song, this delightful
story of ingenuity and thrift has been re-illustrated and is told in simple,
repetitive text.”
Reviewed
in Publishers Weekly: “This diverting, sequential story unravels as
swiftly as the threads of Joseph's well-loved, patch-covered plaid coat.”
Starred
review in School Library Journal: “A book bursting at the seams with
ingenuity and creative spirit. The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect
storytime read-aloud.”
Reviewed
in Horn Book Magazine
- CONNECTIONS
*This
story could begin conversations about appreciating the things that we have, reusing/recycling
items, and the unique illustrations that were in the book.
*Students could be encouraged to find new ways to use
items they may have at home. Old jeans or t-shirts could be brought and reused
in new ways.
*Other stories featuring important coats:
Ziefert, Harriet. A new coat for Anna. ISBN 9780394898612
Mills,
Lauren A. The rag coat. ISBN 9780316574075
Molodowsky,
Kadia. The life of a coat. ISBN 9781683962670
Sneve,
Virginia Driving Hawk. The Christmas coat: Memories of my Sioux childhood. ISBN
9781941813256
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