Customer Reviews

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Caldecott Medal Book)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

I read this book to 130 second graders in the cafeteria and they loved it!. The illustrations were beautiful. It lends itself to a great writing prompt with a project attached! Don't forget those fifth graders, too! Nancy Usich Avon, Ct

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.

At first my 4 year old son turned his nose up at it (no construction trucks or policemen here!), but a few nights later I read it to him and he wanted me to re-read it to him again. Well, that was last week, and it has been his book choice every night since. Very colorful, interesting artwork with people tucked here and there, and peering out of windows. He loves wondering about all these people involved in Joseph's life. I recommend it totally. It really captured his imagination.

I think the best review comes from a child's viewpoint. I bought this book for my 2 1/2 year old son. Since the first day he had the book we have to read it every night and 2 to 3 other times during the day. If you ask him to pick a book to read, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is one that is always chosen. I do not think there can be a better recommendation on a child's book than a child wanting the book read over and over and over again. And that the child knows the book well enough to choose it himself to "read" and for it to be read to him. Also, from my (the parent's) viewpoint the history of the story and the tune in the back to sing just gives so much more to the story itself. It gives history and a way to take the story with us even if the book is not available.

Dear Readers,

This story deals with the theory of makingsometing out of nothing. One may think that there is no hope forcreating something from nothing at all, but children need to know otherwise. Through the reading of this book children can expand their own creative ideas about the world around them through the use of their own imaginations. You can visualize the large coat and how the material from that coat can be used and used until there is no more. Teachers could relate this to learning about the process of recycling. A unit could be created with the help of the children regarding the topic of recycling. The classroom could develop a schoolwide-recycling center. The children could explore the great outdoors and learn how we recycle things to produce other things. Extension lessons to be taught from that unit would be conservation, pollution, and endangered animals. This book could also be used to further enhance the writing process. Children could create their own version of this story. The story could be developed around a thing that interests them. It could be tied in with any of the units mentioned earlier. Through the sharing of their story creations, students would develop a sense of belonging and importance within a community of learners. I really enjoyed reading this book. I already share with my students a similar story called "The Taylor". I think the concept taught throughout the story is a great one. The activities that can be developed with the use of this book are endless.

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.

I am so thrilled to see this book released again! My son (now 18) wore-out our copy as a toddler. We both love the simple humor and the enduring message of worth in all things. I can't wait to introduce the book to my Kindergarten class - wonderful kids whose lives revolve too much around how many Beanies they have collected. And what a treat to have the original song added to the book to share a piece of Yiddish heritage.

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!

I was so glad to hear this book won the Caldecott award because we so frequently see a book win that has good pictures but a pathetic story. I know that the Caldecott is given for pictures alone but the pictures are greatly complimented by good words. I love this book becasue it teaches a lesson and has truly fun and bright pictures.