Book Review: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT. Illustrated by the author. New York, NY: The Penguin Group. ISBN 0-670-87855-3.

Plot Summary: This book tells the story of Joseph and his overcoat. When the overcoat becomes worn, Joseph does not throw it away but finds new and innovative ways to use it to make new things. As the overcoat becomes worn, it is made into a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and finally a button. With each new incarnation of the original overcoat, Joseph has many experiences including dancing at his nephew’s wedding, singing in a men’s chorus, visiting his sister in the city, drinking hot tea with lemon, and finally writing a story about the overcoat’s metamorphosis. This book is based on a Yiddish folk song that the author heard as a child. In the song, once there was nothing left of the overcoat, a song was created. Taback creatively modified the original story by substituting a book for the song. The messages conveyed include finding value in something old and worn, sharing rich experiences with family and friends, and finding continuity in loss by remembering something in a creative way.

Critical Analysis: Taback takes a simple Yiddish folk song and creates an engaging and colorful picture book. Joseph is the main character but there are supporting characters such as his nephew, his sister, his friends and extended family. In addition, pets and animals play a role in the story by their presence in the colorful illustrations. The simple plot is made more engaging by this being an engineered book, whereby the author incorporates die-cut pages to heighten the reader’s anticipation of what will come next. Although the story transcends the setting, the author uses the various settings to impart cultural authenticity, with an emphasis on his Jewish heritage. The rich illustrations are done in a simple yet colorful folk style and are an adventure unto themselves as the reader can spend time on each page exploring the exquisite details included by the author: newspaper headlines (Fiddler on Roof falls off roof), pictures of famous people with Jewish heritage (Freud, Sholom Aleichem), snippets of wisdom (Better to have an ugly patch than a beautiful hole), and even the words and music to the original folk song.

Although there is no dialogue, the repeated phrase, “Joseph had a little…” and “so he made a _______ out of it” keeps the reader intrigued and provides a structure that allows this to be an excellent read-aloud book, allowing for children to follow the story and make predictions. The theme fits well into today’s society, reminding us that everything has value, even an old and worn out overcoat. It would seem to be an even timelier story in light of the new focus on recycling and thrift. It is truly a timeless story whose time has come again.

Review Excerpts: This book won the Caldecott Medal and the New York Times Best Illustrated book of 1997.

Publisher’s Weekly: “With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud. Children of all ages will joyfully swallow this book whole.”
School Library Journal: “A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit.”
Bookreporter.com: “Cheery, mixed-texture paintings and a folk-art style make this a particularly snappy story.”

Connections:
Another book by Simms Taback: There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly

Predicting: the die-cut pages are ideal to encourage young readers to predict what will be made next from the overcoat; they can also suggest alternatives, for example a hat, a quilt.

Building visual literacy: Page through the book showing children the illustrations. Take time to explore the images before reading the story. Have the children try to tell the story from the visuals alone.

Interactive Read Aloud: The phrase “Joseph had a little” is ideal for this strategy. Decide ahead of time that the audience will say out loud “Joseph had a little ____________” and the reader will pick it up from there.

Lead a discussion about recycling and thrift. Have the children give examples of something “old” in their home that can be made into something new. The librarian might have examples to start the discussion, such as an old cowboy boot that becomes a decorative planter for dried flowers or an old book that is turned into a scrapbook or photo album. This would also be an excellent opportunity for a craft activity based on the story.

Find other books about the Jewish Heritage (The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate by Janice Cohn. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth) or recycling (The Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong. Illustrated by David Roberts).