Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

 

1.      Bibliography

Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Penguin Putnam Books, 1999. ISBN 0670878553

2.      Plot Summary

Joseph’s overcoat is so old that it is patched and fraying.  So, Joseph makes a jacket.  Each time the article of clothing gets old, he cuts it down to something smaller.  The story is told with Joseph on one page and a cut-out of an article of clothing on the other.  Children will enjoy guessing, by looking at the cut-outs, what Joseph is going to make next.  The article of clothing gets smaller and smaller and it becomes hard to imagine what Joseph will make next but he continues to find inventive ways to make a smaller piece of clothing.

3.      Critical Analysis

The character of Joseph is appealing and thrifty.  He appears comfortable, surrounded by his animals and friends. Young children ages 3-7 will follow along and enjoy the repetition of ‘Joseph had a little blank. It got old and worn.  So, he made a blank out of it.’  The cut-out of the next article of clothing will keep the children playing along and guessing what the next article of clothing will be.  The setting of the old man and the animals may not be familiar to all children but his sense of making something fit, will ring true to any kid that had to deal with hand-me-downs.  And, the theme of ‘making something out of nothing’, is an up-lifting moral for those that have had to live with less.

The illustrations have a kind of old fashion feeling.  Because Joseph’s clothes are patched, the reader has a sense of a patchwork quilt time in history that is mostly gone from our society.  And, Joseph’s beard, glasses, and manner of dress; puts the reader into a culture that is not part of mainstream America. So, the illustrations will make a great discussion starter about the Yiddish culture and similarities and differences to what the children are used to.

4.      Review Excerpts

Caldecott Medal Book 2000

From Publisher’s Weekly: With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”

From Common Sense Media: “Vibrantly illustrated and simply patterned story.”

From School Library Journal: “A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit.”

From Booklist: “This newly illustrated version … is a true example of accomplished bookmaking.”

5.      Connections

Gather and read other books by Simms Taback such as:

    There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.  ISBN 0670869392
    This is the House That Jack Built.  ISBN 0142402001

Gather and read other books about Jewish culture such as:

   Wisniewski, David.  Golem.  ISBN 0618894241
    Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.  ISBN 0823431940
    Aylesworth, Jim.  My Grandfather’s Coat.  ISBN 0439925452
    Kimmel, Eric A. Gershon’s Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year.  ISBN 043910839X

Have children make something from something else and/or have them make something out of nothing this could include a book, song, art etc.

Use the book in a lesson on recycling and reuse.

Use the story in a science lesson on barnyard animals.