Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is the title of a 1999 book by Simms Taback that won the 2000 Caldecott Medal.[1][2] The main character is Joseph, a Jewish farmer, who has a little striped overcoat. When it is old, Joseph makes it into a little jacket and so on until he makes it into a button. Then Joseph loses the button and makes a story out of it. The moral of the story is "you can always make something out of nothing."

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat cover
AuthorSimms Taback
IllustratorSimms Taback
CountryUnited States
GenreChildren's picture book
PublisherViking Press
Publication date
1999
ISBN978-0-670-87855-0
OCLC40159006
398.2 E 21
LC ClassPZ7.T1115 Jo 1999

The story has die-cut illustrations consisting of watercolor and collage.[3] Readers of the story say that Joseph greatly resembles Simms Taback.[4]

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is based on the Yiddish song I Had a Little Overcoat.[3][5] Barbara Kiefer, chair of the Caldecott Award Committee, commented, "Vibrant rich colors, playful details, and skillfully-placed die cuts contribute to the books raucous merriment that takes this Yiddish folk song far beyond the simple words."[1]

The story is read on the children's show Between the Lions.[6]

Reception

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat has been favorably received. Publishers Weekly found "With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud."[7] while Common Sense Media wrote "it will nudge its way onto your list of favorites."[8] Booklist called it "a true example of accomplished bookmaking" and "Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity. Their colors are festive yet controlled, and they are filled with homey clutter, interesting characters, and a million details to bring children back again and again."[9] The School Library Journal described it as "A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit." [9]

Awards

References

See also

Awards
Preceded by
Snowflake Bentley
Caldecott Medal recipient
2000
Succeeded by
So You Want to Be President?
Preceded by
You Never Know
National Jewish Book Award recipient
1999
Succeeded by
Moishe's Miracle


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