Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
![]() Joseph Had a Little Overcoat cover
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Author | Simms Taback |
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Illustrator | Simms Taback |
Country | United States |
Genre | Children's picture book |
Publisher | Viking Press |
Publication date
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1999 |
ISBN | 978-0-670-87855-0 |
OCLC | 40159006 |
398.2 E 21 | |
LC Class | PZ7.T1115 Jo 1999 |
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is the title of a 1999 book by Simms Taback that won the 2000 Caldecott Medal.[1][2] The main character is Joseph, a 40-something Jewish farmer, who has a little striped overcoat. When it is old, Joseph makes it into a little jacket and so on until he makes it into a button. Then Joseph loses the button and makes a story out of it. The moral of the story is "you can always make something out of nothing."
The story has die-cut illustrations consisting of watercolor and collage.[3] Readers of the story say that Joseph greatly resembles Simms Taback.[4]
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is based on the Yiddish song I Had a Little Overcoat.[3][5] Barbara Kiefer, chair of the Caldecott Award Committee, commented, "Vibrant rich colors, playful details, and skillfully-placed die cuts contribute to the books raucous merriment that takes this Yiddish folk song far beyond the simple words."[1]
The story is read on the children’s show Between the Lions.[6]
Reception
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat has been favorably received. Publishers Weekly found "With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud."[7] while Common Sense Media wrote "it will nudge its way onto your list of favorites."[8] Booklist called it "a true example of accomplished bookmaking" and "Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity. Their colors are festive yet controlled, and they are filled with homey clutter, interesting characters, and a million details to bring children back again and again."[9] The School Library Journal described it as "A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit." [9]
References
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Awards | ||
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Preceded by | Caldecott Medal recipient 2000 |
Succeeded by So You Want to Be President? |
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Barbara Kiefer Chairs the Caldecott Award Committee. June 1, 1999.
- ↑ Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 – Present. Association for Library Service to Children.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Judy Halpern. Green Teacher. April 1, 2003.
- ↑ Angie West, Jodi Stevens, Cheryl Delia, Valerie Bradshaw, and Mike Kahn. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.
- ↑ I Had a Little Overcoat
- ↑ Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.
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