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brooke_review's review against another edition
2.0
Joseph had a little overcoat ... that went through a lot of little changes. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is based upon a Yiddish folk song about an overcoat that gets made over time into other garments. In the work, Joseph’s overcoat gets worn out, so he makes it into jacket, which gets made into a vest, which gets made into a scarf. The remaking of the garments continues until Joseph’s overcoat is a tiny button, and alas, seemingly nothing at all.
The theme of the book is one of resourcefulness and that “something” can always be made of “nothing” if one thinks outside the box. Joseph’s garments continue to become worn and torn over time, but instead of throwing them away, he crafts them into something new. The plot of the work focuses on Joseph’s modification of his garments and his day-to-day life wearing them. The writing style is repetitive – we learn repeatedly that Joseph’s garments have become “old and worn,” and he thus remakes them into something new.
There isn’t much of a written story here, but by examining the illustrations, one gets a fuller picture of what Joseph’s life is like. What makes this work stand out from others is the use of an actual cutout on the pages, which works in two ways – to show the changes in Joseph’s overcoat and to sometimes play a part in the previous page’s illustration. The cutouts, in addition to the vibrantly colored and detailed illustrations, enhance a book that otherwise consists of simple, and sometimes dull, sentences describing Joseph’s life. However, the reader can find much enjoyment in the Caldecott Award-Winning illustrations. Joseph’s culture is clearly on display, from letters, to newspapers, to photographs, to religious objects. In addition, the collage work is stunning and eye-catching.
The work would probably find its best use as an individual read so that one can have the full experience of touching the cutouts and examining the illustrations. Due to its Caldecott Award status, the work is an essential purchase for all libraries.
The theme of the book is one of resourcefulness and that “something” can always be made of “nothing” if one thinks outside the box. Joseph’s garments continue to become worn and torn over time, but instead of throwing them away, he crafts them into something new. The plot of the work focuses on Joseph’s modification of his garments and his day-to-day life wearing them. The writing style is repetitive – we learn repeatedly that Joseph’s garments have become “old and worn,” and he thus remakes them into something new.
There isn’t much of a written story here, but by examining the illustrations, one gets a fuller picture of what Joseph’s life is like. What makes this work stand out from others is the use of an actual cutout on the pages, which works in two ways – to show the changes in Joseph’s overcoat and to sometimes play a part in the previous page’s illustration. The cutouts, in addition to the vibrantly colored and detailed illustrations, enhance a book that otherwise consists of simple, and sometimes dull, sentences describing Joseph’s life. However, the reader can find much enjoyment in the Caldecott Award-Winning illustrations. Joseph’s culture is clearly on display, from letters, to newspapers, to photographs, to religious objects. In addition, the collage work is stunning and eye-catching.
The work would probably find its best use as an individual read so that one can have the full experience of touching the cutouts and examining the illustrations. Due to its Caldecott Award status, the work is an essential purchase for all libraries.
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the cutouts that then created different patterns in the story! How cute.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Caldecott Award 2000
This was a fun story & I loved the illustrations with the cutouts and the collage. This may be where the author of I Had a Favorite Dress got her idea. It would be cool to pair the two books together.
This was a fun story & I loved the illustrations with the cutouts and the collage. This may be where the author of I Had a Favorite Dress got her idea. It would be cool to pair the two books together.
a_manning11's review against another edition
5.0
This book agrees with my mindset about not wasting resources, but the book is much more than that.
Joseph is a wonderful character and I love his creativity for finding a new use for what remains of his overcoat and how it turns out.
This book is funny, soothing and irresistible.
The illustrations are beautiful.
Caldecott Medal Winner 2000.
Joseph is a wonderful character and I love his creativity for finding a new use for what remains of his overcoat and how it turns out.
This book is funny, soothing and irresistible.
The illustrations are beautiful.
Caldecott Medal Winner 2000.
msgabbythelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This one needs to be a lap read as well as a storybook read.
Because my kiddos would have enjoyed guessing what wardrobe item was going to be made each time the article of clothing got "old and worn."
I need to do this book more often.
Because my kiddos would have enjoyed guessing what wardrobe item was going to be made each time the article of clothing got "old and worn."
I need to do this book more often.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
A clever adaptation of a Yiddish song that I had not heard of, told as a folktale. With rich layered art that awards looking at the details strewn across the pages. Kind of a fiddler on the roof tale, that captures a long ago age. It was clever and read well and was definitely nice to see a story set in a place and time and yet still feeling timeless.
kimberlyjerger's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
2000 Caldecott Medal
Based on a traditional Yiddish folk song, Joseph Had A Little Overcoat features die-cut holes to tell the story of a coat repurposed again and again as the cloth grows threadbare, the holes diminishing in size as the original fabric grows smaller and smaller.
With limited, repetitive text, the details of the story lie in the artwork. The eclectic mix of artistic medium—from gouache to watercolor and collage—brings an additional element playfulness to the story. With bold, vibrant artwork, Taback weaves an interesting tale with a clear moral: you can always make something out of nothing.
2000 Caldecott Medal
Based on a traditional Yiddish folk song, Joseph Had A Little Overcoat features die-cut holes to tell the story of a coat repurposed again and again as the cloth grows threadbare, the holes diminishing in size as the original fabric grows smaller and smaller.
With limited, repetitive text, the details of the story lie in the artwork. The eclectic mix of artistic medium—from gouache to watercolor and collage—brings an additional element playfulness to the story. With bold, vibrant artwork, Taback weaves an interesting tale with a clear moral: you can always make something out of nothing.
snowelf's review against another edition
4.0
We borrowed this book because of how much I liked Simm Taback's other medal winner [b:There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly|205330|There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly|Simms Taback|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172674507s/205330.jpg|198687] (which we discovered during story time at preschool). It's quite the special book, thanks to the unique illustrations which accompany this traditional story. I suppose some kids may find them rather dark, however they are certain to be intrigued by the cut-outs of the pages, which track how the overcoat transforms. So, overall a fun book, although it may not appeal to every body.
readinginthe_pnw's review against another edition
4.0
This is a cute story about how you can always make something out of nothing. I like that it was based on a Yiddish folk song, and I think it would be a good launch into some sort of art project where students are using recycled materials. Its's also just a good reminder that we should try to find new uses for things rather than jumping to throwing them away.