Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

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Summary: Joseph had a Little Overcoat : a colorful children's story
Review: The Caldecott award winning Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a delightful children's book. In this story, author Simms Taback uses simple words to tell a tale about how you can take what little you have, and make a lot out of it. Joseph starts out with an overcoat, but his coat gets tattered and torn. Then he decides to downsize to a jacket. Without revealing the plot, I will tell you that Taback does an outstanding job describing the history of Joseph and that overcoat. He takes the reader through some interesting moments in Joseph's life without getting too complicated for a small child to understand. The art used in this book is in a word...phenomenal! The colorful objects, usual cut outs, and wonderful patterns are sure to keep a little one interested during storytime. This is one of my favorite children's books and a well worthy award winner! I would recommend this book to any parents, children, or anyone of any age. It kept my attention and it is sure to keep yours.

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Summary: Joseph is Superb
Review: This 4th edition of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat varies from its 1977 version in that the watercolor, Gouache, pencil, ink and collage artwork draws attention to subtle message in the terse, repetitive storyline. "Joseph had...So he made...out of it." Clues in the pictures provide important background information like a letter with Joseph's full name that informs us that he's a Jewish man living in Poland; a menorah; pictures hanging in his unkempt farmhouse. Also eye-pleasing are the cut-outs throughout the book that outlines subsequent clothing - all from one disheveled overcoat. Simms Taback uses every square inch of every double-page spread illustration for something. There is boldness in color in everything. It is to be enjoyed by both the reader and the listener, like producers of children's cartoons have grown to understand. Presumably, pictures of real historical figures decorate the pages and house of Joseph. Molly Picon hangs on the wall left of Maurice Schwartz, and a chapter of an open book reads "If I Were a Rothschild" by a Mr. Aleichem. This book is a perfect example of pictures sometimes meaning more than words, even though the few words actually drive the story. Intended for ages 4-8, the whole can receive something substantive from Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.

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Summary: Look on the Bright Side!
Review: This book could easily have been entitled, "Opportunity Knocks." The philosophy of the glass is always half full is humorously and realistically portrayed here in fairy tale fashion. The beautiful illustrations make imaginative use of die cuts to develop the story in delightful ways.

Joseph is a man who lives alone in a farming community in what could be Eastern Europe around 1900. Although he is a poor man, he always sees hope. His hope shines as a beacon to us all, like the torch held by the Statue of Liberty.

The story begins with Joseph wearing an old, worn and patched overcoat that gets older and more worn. But it can still provide benefits. He turns it into a jacket! A die-cut overlay onto the prior page makes the transformation in a way that makes the process more obvious to the young reader.

The story evolves in that general direction, and the smiles are broad as it does.

Then, just when you think that Joseph has run out of options, he finds an even more wonderful opportunity!

This is a great book to teach children to see change as a reason to think about opportunities. I would hope that every family would have a copy.

The book also can serve as a beginning reader from around ages 3 or 4 because it has few words, and much repetition in the use of words. "It got old and worn" is repeated several times, for example.

I also encourage you to ask your child what things make life challenging in her or his life, and how to turn those challenges to advantage. That can be a source of irresistible advantage for the rest of your child's life!

Have a great new wardrobe whenever you want one . . . and always see great opportunities, wherever they may come from!

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Summary: A Must Buy !
Review: This book is by far one of the best books i've read. Young and old like it. I love this book because it keeps you guessing,kids love this book because there are holes in the pages of this book. The holes show how Joseph makes "something out of his old overcoat. when Joseph has nothing, he makes something out of nothing (which is the moral of the story). The illustrations are excellent-watercolor and bright and appealing to the eye. This book is very to the point and there's only about 2 sentences on each page.

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Summary: Can't go wrong with this book.
Review: This has been a favorite book since the very first time we read it. My six year old daughter was so excited about the book she couldn't wait to share it with her kindergarten class. Needless to say they loved it too.
The pictures are brightly captivating and the cut outs are fun.
The story also provides a good life lesson about making the best out of what you have.
I would recommend this book to everyone with children.

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Summary: Wonderful story...wonderful pictures
Review: This is a charming, simple book with vibrant, busy pictures that just delights my five year old. The format of the story repeats itself over and over so that your little one can easily "help" you read. The pictures are terrific and full of detail. My son enjoys spending time looking for new and hidden things on each page. Overall, a nice thoughtful book. I recommend it highly.

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Summary: Cute little story, fun format
Review: This is a rather short story taken from a traditional yiddish folk song. The pictures are adorable and very colorful; each page has a die-cut hole that reveals the transformation of Joseph's overcoat as you turn the page. I think this is a fun book to add to your kid's collection.

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Summary: joseph had a little Overcoat
Review: This is another great children't book. I like how the pages are cut out so you can see what he made from what he had previously. The pictures tell a lot of the story and let children use their imagination.

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Summary: Beautiful, funny, and wise!
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite children's books - it is great to have it in print in a new and even better edition. The philosophy underlying the story - that with spirit one can always triumph over circumstances - is light-heartedly embodied in Taback's marvelous illustrations. The text is inspired by a Yiddish song, which the new edition gives on a back page. This is a book I'm going to give away copies of for years to come!

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Summary: Colorful, Eye-Catching, and with a moral too
Review: This is one of my son's favorite books, a tale about a man and his aging, transforming overcoat. Encourages thrift, imagination, beards, and living in close proximity to animals. My one and a half year old son often knocks me over the head with this book as he wants someone to read it to him (I hope) and its hardcover binding gets one's attention. He likes the colorful pictures, I pressume, and there is always something to expand one's conversation on, concerning each page, with all the additional pictures of varrying sorts - typically of a Hebraic theme. The author's interpretation of "The House that Jack Built" was a bit too wild, but this book was relatively tame and along with the author's brilliant use of colors is deserving of the medal it received. This book might have a good chance of becoming one of your child's favorite books as well.