Module 2: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Bibliography: Taback, S. (1999). Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York, NY: Viking.

Summary: Readers follow the actions of Joseph as he comes up with new ways to salvage his old clothing. He starts off with an overcoat which he turns into a jacket.  The jacket becomes a vest, then a scarf, a tie, a handkerchief and a button until one day he ends up with nothing at all.  Even then Joseph manages to make something out of nothing by writing a book.  Each stage is accompanied by a die-cut hole in the shape of each item of clothing.

Impressions: This upbeat story, based on an old Yiddish folk song, introduces the concept of ‘recycling’ in an entertaining fashion.  The colorful and cartoony illustrations perfectly complement the story.  I was especially taken with the author’s use of die-cut holes to demonstrate each stage of Joseph’s clothing as it slowly transforms from overcoat to button.  Taback’s addition of the original Yiddish folk song at the end of the book was a nice touch.  Overall a good book – children get exposed to a piece of another culture and learn an important lesson at the same time.  With a little effort its possible to make something out of nothing!

Reviews:

“A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit. When Joseph's overcoat becomes "old and worn," he snips off the patches and turns it into a jacket. When his jacket is beyond repair, he makes a vest. Joseph recycles his garments until he has nothing left. But by trading in his scissors for a pen and paintbrush he creates a story, showing "you can always make something out of nothing." Clever die-cut holes provide clues as to what Joseph will make next: windowpanes in one scene become a scarf upon turning the page. Striking gouache, watercolor, and collage illustrations are chock-full of witty details-letters to read, proverbs on the walls, even a fiddler on the roof. Taback adapted this tale from a Yiddish folk song and the music and English lyrics are appended. The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect storytime read-aloud.
Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

-          Ludke, L. (2000). Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Review. School Library Journal.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Little-Overcoat-Caldecott-Medal/dp/product-description/0670878553/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

“This newly illustrated version of a book Taback first published in 1977 is a true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch of fabric. 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. The simple text, which was adapted from the Yiddish song “I Had a Little Overcoat,” begins as Joseph makes a jacket from his old, worn coat. When the jacket wears out, Joseph makes a vest, and so on, until he has only enough to cover a button. Cut outs emphasize the use and reuse of the material and add to the general sense of fun. When Joseph loses, he writes a story about it all, bringing children to the moral “You can always make something out of nothing.” (Reviewed January 1 & 15, 2000)— Tim Arnold

-          Arnold, T. (2000). Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Review. Booklist Online. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Joseph-Had-a-Little-Overcoat-Simms-Taback/pid=1063941

Suggestions for Use in a Library: This book is tailor made for a little show and tell. A librarian can use the story to introduce children to the idea of recycling. In the book, Joseph recycles his old overcoat by turning it into a jacket, his old jacket by turning it into a vest and so forth. The librarian can provide a number of empty plastic bottles to children and show them how to turn them into miniature flowerpots, canteens, or numerous other products instead of throwing them away.