Joseph Had A Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Genre I: Picture Books

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Taback, Simms. 1999.Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Scholastic.ISBN 0439216974

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Joseph is a very likeable, playful farmer. Although he has little money and must find ways to “recycle” his overcoat many times over, he has the good fortune of family and friends. He maintains a positive, cheerful attitude as he presses on to find ways the coat can continue to serve him as it ages and wears. In doing so, he shares his new creations with those around him when he attends weddings, fairs, and community events. The life lesson that this folktale teaches is that “you can always make something out of nothing.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Taback adapted this story from a Yiddish song he enjoyed as a child. His patterned text and lighthearted style attract readers. However, the vibrant, heavily textured, die cut and collage illustrations are even more appealing. His technique of “cut out windows” is intriguing and encourages the reader’s curiosity.

Taback has hidden little treasures of language throughout the story. If readers look closely enough, they will find little bits of wisdom and fun written in both English and Yiddish.

I am more fond of the rhythmic voice, clever anecdotes (found in the illustrations) and the cultural connections than the illustrations.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect story time read-aloud.”
2000 CALDECOTT WINNER: "Vibrant rich colors, playful details, and skillfully-placed die cuts contribute to the book's raucous merriment that takes this Yiddish folk song far beyond the simple words," Barbara Z. Kiefer, chair of the Caldecott Award Selection Committee.

5. CONNECTIONS
*Consider using this book during your next recycling or Earth Day unit. It could be the foundation of almost any multi-subject unit as it easily crosses over into music, social studies and art.
*Using the cut out windows in Taback’s illustrations, have students work on inference skills by having them make predictions as to what piece of clothing Joseph has made out of the coat. Give students the opportunity to create their own art with windows to share.
*Other books by Simms Taback:
The Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly. New York: Viking, 1997. ISBN: 0670869392
This Is The House That Jack Built. New York: Putnam, 2002. ISBN: 0142402001