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A review by brooke_review
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
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.