Traditional Literature Review- Joseph Had A Little Overcoat

Bibliography

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670878553

Plot Summary

This traditional piece of literature is a classic that many can pass on generation after generation.  This story is taken from the author's favorite childhood Yiddish folktale song.  Joseph worked on a farm and has a very nice overcoat that has progressively become worn and torn.  The author has used his state of coat as the center of attraction.  Joseph is not really ready to give up his overcoat so with a little help of stitching, cutting, and pattern creating he reuses it for a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a tie, a handkerchief, and finally a button.  

Critical Analysis

This story has a wonderful moral 'something can be nothing and nothing can be something.'  Joseph could have easily gotten upset about his overcoat being torn and worn but he thought about the positive and he always found a way to make something else out of something that could have been nothing.  It's a great way to show how we can recycle old items, use our imagination, become resourceful and be unique!  Also this story is absolutely great for the young with simple vocabulary, and word repetition.  

The artwork is truly rich with eye catching bold, bright colors.  The collages are mesmerizing and it draws the reader in to look at every detail.  As the reader reads through the text the die cut gives the reader a clue to know what Joseph makes next from his worn and torn overcoat.  The characters in the story are amazed to see what's next for Joseph and so will the reader reading this fascinating story.

Reviews Excerpts/Awards

Recipient of  the Parent's Choice Gold Award

Parenting Certificate of Excellence

New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 1997

Publisher's Weekly starred review, "Children of all ages will joyfully swallow this book whole."

Received Caldecott Honor Medal

School Library Journal, "Pre-Gr 3-A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit. When Joseph's overcoat becomes "old and worn," he snips off the patches and turns it into a jacket. When his jacket is beyond repair, he makes a vest. Joseph recycles his garments until he has nothing left. But by trading in his scissors for a pen and paintbrush he creates a story, showing "you can always make something out of nothing." Clever die-cut holes provide clues as to what Joseph will make next: windowpanes in one scene become a scarf upon turning the page. Striking gouache, watercolor, and collage illustrations are chock-full of witty details-letters to read, proverbs on the walls, even a fiddler on the roof. Taback adapted this tale from a Yiddish folk song and the music and English lyrics are appended. The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect storytime read-aloud.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information."

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Connections

-The children can make a list of things that can be recycled.

- Have children write and draw about what they could make out of an overcoat as Joseph did.

-Read another book of Simms Taback, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly.

-Read the The Principal's New Clothes by Stephanie Calmenson or Mary Wore Her Red Dress by Merle Peek.

-Go through the 'lost and found' box at your school and try to recycle items inside.

-Write about a time you made something out of nothing.

-Bring in some fabric and give each child the same amount of inches (yards, foot etc.) and have them make something out of nothing.  Each child will come up with something different and interesting but they will all have the same pattern.