Bit by Bit (Picture Books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Steve Sanfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 1999 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Picture Books

Zundel loved his warm winter coat so much, he wore it and wore it and wore it until bit by bit he w-o-r-e it out. With the remaining cloth, Zundel makes a jacket, then a vest, then a cap, a pocket, and a button until there is no fabric left. But that's not the end of story, as you can tell from the cover of the book.

"Sanfield weaves the circular narrative with a strong storyteller's voice, underscoring the pattern with repeated refrains and cumulative phrases that will delight young listeners." --School Library Journal

"Gaber's illustrations...add immensely to the fun and extend the story." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a tale based on a Russian folk song, a tailor wears out his favorite coat, which he makes into successively smaller garmentsAthose, too, wear out, bit by bit. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?When his old winter coat wears out, Zundel the tailor makes himself a replacement out of a beautiful piece of cloth with red, gold, blue, and green threads. He loves the coat so much that he wears it morning and night until it, too, wears out. The cloth is subsequently made into a jacket, a vest, a cap, a pocket, and a button. Finally, when there seems to be nothing left of Zundel's favorite fabric, it becomes the threads of a story, this story. Sanfield weaves the circular narrative with a strong storyteller's voice, underscoring the pattern with repeated refrains and cumulative phrases that will delight young listeners. Gaber's folk-like paintings, done in strong, clear colors, echo the brightly painted threads that are central to the tale. The layout on each page is full of life, with flowing lines and shapes that counterbalance the repetition in the text. Best of all, Gaber shows what the words don't tell us, that as Zundel's garments become smaller and smaller, his life becomes richer and fuller. He meets a young woman, marries her, has a son, watches him grow, and at the end (or beginning) of the book is awaiting another child. The illustrations thus add further depth to a story about stories that will have many levels of appeal to children.?Barbara Kiefer, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (August 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698117751
• ISBN-13: 978-0698117754
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,938,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Joseph Had A Little Overcoat, October 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bit by Bit (Hardcover)

This is a sweet book with outstanding and vivid illustrations. The reader is engaged by anticipating what Zundel the tailor will resourcefully create next as he recycles his beloved coat. The repetitive text is enchanting, "Oh, how he loved that coat..." "Bit By Bit" came before "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat" (Caldecott Medal winner). See also a nice version in Spanish entitled "Algo de Nada."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bit by Bit, June 22, 2000

By 

Ariel Weiss Holyst (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bit by Bit (Hardcover)

This has been a top favorite for my 4 yr. old daughter and I since the 1st (of many) time(s) we've borrowed it from the library. A must for our own library! The story is enticing and lulling (perfect for bedtime), and the pictures carry a whole new story -- a sweet taste of the "old world", growing older and losing treasures.