Caldecott Award Winning Traditional Literature

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Taback, Simms. Joseph had a Little Overcoat. New York, NY:  Viking ,1999.

ISBN 9780670878550

Summary of Plot:

Joseph is a very practical man who has an overcoat that is beginning to show some wear. Soon his overcoat becomes old and worn he makes a jacket out of it. Then the jacket becomes old and worn, but Joseph makes a vest out of it. The pattern continues with each new item becoming old and worn and Joseph is able to come up with something new and a little smaller each time. Finally the last thing Joseph is able to make is a button. Unfortunately the button falls off and it appears that Joseph may be left with nothing, however, he is able to use his experience to make a book. The book ends with the moral of the story…”you can always make something out of nothing.”

Critical Analysis:

The illustrations by Simms Taback easily capture the reader’s attention. The pictures contain colorful details and on some pages there are actual holes in the clothing and once the page is turned the new article of clothing made from the old one is revealed.

The story is based on a Yiddish folksong and the actual song the story is based on is printed in the back of the book. The illustrations help portray the culture of a Jewish man and the moral of the story, making something out of nothing, reflects the ideals of not being wasteful as seen in Jewish beliefs. Some illustrations also reveal writings in Yiddish.

Reviews & Awards:

“With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”--Publishers Weekly

Caldecott Award winning book

Connections:

*Make a list of what can be done with worn out clothing and discuss how reusing materials is important to our community.

*Cut out pictures from a magazine and glue together to make an overcoat collage. The pictures can be representative of a particular theme.

*Collect old items and put them together to make something new.

*Make predictions about what Joseph might make next as you read the story aloud.