Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback


1.     Bibliography

Taback, Simms. Joseph had a little overcoat. New York, NY: The Penguin Group, 1999.

ISBN-13: 978-0670878550


2.     Plot Summary

 Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, adapted from a Yiddish song, tells the lively tale of a resourceful man named Joseph. Joseph has an old worn out overcoat he repurposes into new (smaller and smaller) items. In the end of this short tale, Joseph discovers a very useful life lesson!


3.     Critical Analysis

This unique story is simple with few words on the page. Children will make the story come to life by reading along, repeating with the reader, and by predicting (using the cutouts) the next item Joseph will make from his old worn out overcoat. The end of the book brings the story all together and the reader will learn a valuable lesson along with the character Joseph.


The Caldecot Medal winning story is illustrated by Simms Taback. Taback employs the ingenious method of using predictive cutouts that become part of Joseph’s creations from his overcoat. The illustrations are warm toned and have a scrapbook feel to them. Children will enjoy looking at all the details Taback includes in his illustrations. Details such as photographs, newspaper headlines, letters, and sayings on the wall. Taback also includes the lyrics and music to the Yiddish song “I Had a Little Overcoat”. 


4.     Review Excerpts

From Publishers Weekly: “With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”

From GoodReads: “As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat, while they laugh at the bold, cheerful artwork and learn that you can always make something, even out of nothing.”

From School Library Journal: “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.”


5.     Connections

Also Written and Illustrated by Simms Taback


There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly 

With cut outs 

By Simms Taback

ISBN: 978-0670869398


This is the House That Jack Built

By Simms Taback

ISBN: 978-0142402009


Recommended by the Yiddish Book Center


Goldie Takes a Stand: Golda Meir’s First Crusade

By Barbara Krasner

ISBN: 978-1467712019


Lucky Broken Girl 

By Ruth Behar

ISBN: 978-0399546440


This book could be used to practice predictions with children, using the cutouts and reasoning. 

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