The Coat of Many Colors [Hardcover]

Jenny Koralek (Author), Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A long time ago in Israel, ten brothers grew jealous of their fathers favorite son, Joseph, and of his wonderful coat of many colors. They decided to teach Joseph a lesson he wouldnt forget. . . . This exciting retelling, with images by one of the twentieth centurys most distinguished illustrators, makes a perfect first Bible story for very young readers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–Beginning with a lovely description of the famed coat, this condensed, well-written retelling of the story from the Book of Genesis highlights the key events in the life of Joseph, favored son of Jacob, and explores timeless themes of sibling rivalry and the power of forgiveness. Koralek details how the envious sons of Jacob conspired against their sibling and sold him into slavery, but then grew to rue their treachery. The author omits Joseph's early experiences in Egypt, picking up the narrative with the Pharaoh asking Joseph to interpret his disturbing dreams, which predict an impending famine. The Egyptian leader, in his gratitude for Joseph's saving his people from starvation, raises him to a place of power, and the young man is quickly reunited with his remorseful brothers, who have come from their famine-stricken country to buy corn. Baynes enhances the straightforward text with atmospheric illustrations rendered in muted desert shades. The pictures feature the exotic flora and fauna of the ancient biblical world, as well as decorative geometric borders that draw readers' eyes from one page to the next. This appealing rendition of a well-known tale is perfect for reading aloud.–Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. The author-illustrator team who created The Moses Basket (2003) offers another smooth, uncomplicated telling of an Old Testament story, focusing this time on Joseph's betrayal by his brothers, his triumph in Egypt, and his reunion with his repentant siblings. Koralek's brisk text is made even more accessible with well-integrated dialogue that animates the characters, while Baynes' paintings, in a flat style reminiscent of Egyptian art, evoke the setting in chalky, desert colors, shot through with blues and greens. Handsome decorative borders wind around scenes of elemental action and enliven the spreads. Both lively and straightforward, this British import will be a welcome addition to religion shelves. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers; 1ST edition (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802852777
• ISBN-13: 978-0802852779
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,037,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars misses the main point of the biblical account, March 10, 2011

By 

J. Lorenz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Coat of Many Colors (Hardcover)

This book has great colors and interesting text, but it totally misses the point of the biblical account!

"The Coat of Many Colors" is somewhat accurate to the scriptural story, but there are enormous glaring holes. Rather than going into Joseph's slavery under Potiphar in Egypt, being tempted by Potiphar's wife, thrown into prison, given charge over the other prisoners, and interpreting the chief baker and chief cupbearers dreams, this account jumps right from Joseph's brothers selling him to interpreting Pharaoh's dream. Worst of all, the only one given an exalted name in this version is Pharaoh, who is called O Great One. What?? How is it overlooked that the point of this story was the immense care and intricate purposes of our great God?

The author completely missed the point of the Joseph story. Joseph's life was not random and it didn't just so happen that Joseph ended up as second in command of Egypt and was thus in a position to keep his family from starving. The biblical Joseph knew very clearly that it was God who directed his steps. His long story in the Bible ends with these words: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you in your children."

I can only guess that the author of "The Coat of Many Colors" was intending to take God out of the story altogether. She ends her version like this: "We have all learned many lessons since I first put on the coat of many colors."

This biblical account was not about learning lessons, it was about trusting God. This version has lovely illustrations, but taking out the main focus of the biblical account - that God was in charge all the while, and that He had intended all along to bring Joseph to Egypt for His own good purposes - takes the redemptive nature out of the story altogether. If you are considering buying this book to read to your child to teach them more about God, don't bother. He's not a part of it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about Joseph, January 28, 2009

By 

Christine M. Irvin (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Coat of Many Colors (Hardcover)

The Coat of Many Colors is one of many books about the Bible character, Joseph. This book retells the well-known story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, taken from the book of Genesis. The author highlights the key events in Joseph's life: his father giving him a special coat; his brothers' jealousies and their betrayal of him; his capture and enslavement; his interpretations of Pharaoh's dreams; his rise to power in Egypt; and his eventual reunion with his brothers.

The text contains both narrative and dialogue, bringing the characters to life on the page.

The illustrations, done mostly in shades of browns and yellows, like those found in a desert, are appropriate for a story set long ago in Egypt. They evoke a feeling of ancient Egyptian art. Borders, like those found on ancient poetry, have been added to each page.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A picturebook retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, April 12, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Coat of Many Colors (Hardcover)

Elegantly illustrated by the artwork of Pauline Baynes, The Coat Of Many Colors by Jenny Koralek is a picturebook retelling the Biblical story of Joseph. When his ten brothers became jealous of his coat of many colors, they decided to teach him a lesson. Joseph was sold into slavery - yet his astounding gift to interpret dreams would come to the pharaoh's attention, and Joseph taught him how to protect the land from the threat of famine. One day Joseph and his brothers would meet again, with repentance filling the brothers' hearts, all of them far wiser than they once were so many years ago. A powerful and timeless legend.