Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat review by Sarah Bartholomew

 1. Bibliography

Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Viking, 1999. ISBN 9780670878550 

2. Plot Summary

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is the story of a man with an overcoat that is old and needs several patches. He is so in love with the coat that he simply turns the coat into a jacket. After time passes, the jacket soon becomes worn out, so he turns it into a vest. Once the vest is worn out, he uses the fabric to make a scarf for himself. Joseph then turns the worn-out scarf into a necktie. As time goes on the necktie grows worn and he must turn the tie into a handkerchief. He still cannot bear to part with the fabric when the handkerchief is worn, so he uses it to fasten his suspenders. One day, Joseph loses the button. This left him with nothing to remember his overcoat. Joseph decides to write a book about his overcoat and all that he created from that one overcoat so that he can always remember it. 

3. Critical Analysis

This book has elements of Jewish culture sprinkled throughout the illustrations. The religion of Joseph is never mentioned, nor is it part of the storyline. However, on each page, the reader can see elements of Joseph’s culture whether it be a menorah on the table, a yamaka on a man, Hebrew letters and writing, subtle references to the critically acclaimed musical Fiddler on the Roof, and pictures of famous Jewish figures. The story is simple and a bit predictable, but it is fun to see just how far Joseph is willing to go to salvage what remains of his overcoat. The illustrations are colorful with some photographs within the drawn illustrations. There are holes in the pages that become the new article of clothing Joseph has made. There is a bit of repetition in the story as well as the lesson to be learned that you can always make something out of nothing. 

4. Review Excerpts(s)

2000 Caldecott Medal Winner

From Publisher’s Weekly: “This diverting, sequential story unravels as swiftly as the threads of Joseph's well-loved, patch-covered plaid coat. A flip of the page allows children to peek through to subsequent spreads as Joseph's tailoring produces items of decreasing size.”

From School Library Journal: “A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit”

5. Connections

Gather other Caldecott Medal Winners

Kenkes, Kevin. Winter is Here. ISBN 9780062747181

Maillard, Kevin Noble. Fry Bread. ISBN 9781626727465

Underwood, Deborah. Outside In. ISBN 9781328866820

Gather other works by Simms Taback

Kibitzers and Fools ISBN 9780670059553

Noisy Barn ISBN 9780061074059

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly ISBN 9780525623878

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Ghigna, Charles. Recycling is Fun. ISBN 9781404872295

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Spiro, Ruth. Made by Maxine. ISBN 9780399186295