Coat of Many Colors [Paperback]

Dolly Parton (Author), Judith Sutton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Winter is coming to Tennessee and there's no money to buy a new coat, so a little girl's mama sews one for her out of rags. The little girl wears it to school proudly, and when the other children laugh, she gives them a quick lesson about what it means to be rich. Judith Sutton's beautiful paintings bring one of Dolly Parton's best-loved songs to life. "The heartfelt verses are imbued with the same genuine, infectiously likeable spirit Parton herself projects."'Publishers Weekly.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The rolling hills of Tennessee farmland, framed in lovely patchwork quilt patterns, set the stage for Dolly Parton's (of Grand Ol' Opry fame) warm childhood memories. The text comes directly from Parton's autobiographical hit country and western song of the same name. Perhaps the grammar is imperfect, but what C&W song ain't rife with grammatical errors--it's part of the vernacular. The story centers on a poor, but happy and loving, family (yes, they do exist) who find clever ways to deal with their poverty. As winter approaches, Mama sews a coat for her daughter from a box of scraps that someone has given her. Of course her classmates make fun of her for having a coat made of rags. But sticks and stones... "And although we had no money / I was rich as I could be / in my coat of many colors / that Mama made for me." That doesn't mean the child's feelings aren't hurt, or that she didn't feel angry. But the message comes through loud and clear (like Parton's voice): the child's mother has provided her with the strength to deal with other children's jeers, and family love can sometimes be enough to pull a person through. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

The country music legend's first hit song?about a penniless girl whose mother sews her a patchwork coat out of rags?makes an "appetizingly sweet" first picture book, said PW, noting that the "heartfelt verses are imbued with the same genuine, infectiously likable spirit Parton herself projects." All ages.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064434478
• ISBN-13: 978-0064434478
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Where We Live > Country Life

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Annie Bananie, April 26, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Coat of Many Colors (Paperback)

I love this story because it teaches me friendship because it
shows caring.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than Expected, February 8, 2008

By 

Jodi Renshaw (Corinna, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coat of Many Colors (Paperback)

My Mother-in-Law was an avid quilter and collector of children's books that had anything to do with quilting and sewing. When she passed away, I inherited this book. Upon receipt of it, I took one look at it and tossed it aside, believing that... because it was written by Dolly Parton ... it would be overly sentimental, sappy and irrelevant. I just haven't found that big-name celebrities make for great children's book authors.

BUT, I was wrong. Though this book simply follows the lyrics of one of her songs, it is so well spoken in book form ... and is abridged perfectly. The illustrator puts lovely, subtle, yet powerful images to the lyrics as well.

The message is much less didactic than I assumed it to be. And the story basically shows how one little girl felt immense gratitude for what little she had in life (compared to her peers) because what she did have was enough ... and her life was filled with love. This humble little girl receives some teasing for a "coat of many colors" that her Mama made of scrap fabrics ... but the way the girl handles the teasing is wonderful ... because she is secure with who she is and what she has ... thanks to her Mama's teaching.

This is a book that I now share with my 3 year old son. Though we are not "lacking" financially ... I am always making him his clothes & toys, etc. so that he appreciates handiwork and the love that goes into creating things for others. Plastic toys are a dime a dozen ... but a "Coat of many Colors" is a treasure forever. This book is a wonderful way for me to keep exhibiting that idea.

I would say that the target age for this book is 3-7 years old.
Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bedtime book, April 13, 2007

By 

M. Killian "Hairdomama" (Omaha NE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coat of Many Colors (Paperback)

I am a huge Dolly Parton fan and I had to buy this book for my little girl. It is a great book for beginning readers and it has a nice message about being different.