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15th out of 76 books
—
225 voters
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
by
Simms Taback
Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes—just like this book! When Joseph's coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that? 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, che...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
October 1st 1999
by Viking Juvenile
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A colorful, fun-filled story based on a Yiddish folksong, about a resourceful man named Joseph, who makes new things out of his old clothes.
Intended age group: 5-8
It was a mistake to read this book with a migraine, since each page in this book is a kaleidoscopic shower of color--buttons, scraps of cloth, patterns on clothing, tiny photographs of vegetables and flowers, all on a contrasting dark background. Under normal circumstances, however, the story is a delightful fantasy about a man in an...more
Intended age group: 5-8
It was a mistake to read this book with a migraine, since each page in this book is a kaleidoscopic shower of color--buttons, scraps of cloth, patterns on clothing, tiny photographs of vegetables and flowers, all on a contrasting dark background. Under normal circumstances, however, the story is a delightful fantasy about a man in an...more
Synposis
This is a picturebook adaptation of a Yiddish song chronicling how Joseph finds new uses for his threadbare overcoat.
Review
I found the busy and colorful pictures a bit overwhelming at times. But the die cut pictures that showed the progression of the overcoat as it made its way from coat to vest to scarf all the way down to a button were pretty cool. Additionally, the book is sequential and has a lot of predictable repeats that make it easy for a younger child to follow along. There is a...more
This is a picturebook adaptation of a Yiddish song chronicling how Joseph finds new uses for his threadbare overcoat.
Review
I found the busy and colorful pictures a bit overwhelming at times. But the die cut pictures that showed the progression of the overcoat as it made its way from coat to vest to scarf all the way down to a button were pretty cool. Additionally, the book is sequential and has a lot of predictable repeats that make it easy for a younger child to follow along. There is a...more
Adapted from a Yiddish folk song, the book starts with Joseph having an old and worn overcoat. Through out the book he remakes the overcoat to a jacket, vest, scarf, tie, handkerchief, and eventually a button as each article gets worn down. Finally he loses the button and then makes this story, to reminding the readers that something can be made out of nothing. It includes the music for the original Yiddish folk song at the end of the book.
Winner of the Caldecott Metal Award in 2000, the illust...more
Winner of the Caldecott Metal Award in 2000, the illust...more
book tells the story of a man named Joseph, whose overcoat had become tattered and worn.
Instead of throwing it away, he turned his overcoat into a jacket. When the jacket became
shabby he turned it into a vest, which then became a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and
finally a button. When the button was lost, leaving Joseph with nothing, he decided to write a
story about his clothing recycling. The book’s ending reminds us that “…you can always make
something out of nothing.”
The book won the Calde...more
Instead of throwing it away, he turned his overcoat into a jacket. When the jacket became
shabby he turned it into a vest, which then became a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and
finally a button. When the button was lost, leaving Joseph with nothing, he decided to write a
story about his clothing recycling. The book’s ending reminds us that “…you can always make
something out of nothing.”
The book won the Calde...more
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 resourcefulne...more
The theme of the book is one of resourcefulne...more
This book is about Joseph and his overcoat, as the title suggests. He wears the overcoat and it eventually becomes worn, so he makes a jacket out of it. Once the jacket is too worn, he makes a vest. The story continues like this, and Joseph continues to make new articles of clothing instead of throwing the old piece away. After a while, he makes a scarf, tie, handkerchief and a button, and then is left with nothing. I love that this book can teach children that they can always make something out...more
Picture Book (2nd author study substitution): This picture book is about a man named Joseph whose overcoat gets tattered so he makes it into a vest, then a scarf, then a tie, a handkerchief, and finally a button. The message of the story is that he does not waste his old, worn out things; he is creative and makes it into something else he can use. Finally, at the end of the story, Joseph loses his button, and instead of being sad that he now had nothing, he decides to write a book about it. So i...more
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a book originally published in 1977 and re-published in 1999 with new illustrations. The target audience for this publication would be children ages birth through five. (N)Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a Caldecott Medal Winner.
The author uses bright illustrations with a verse-style text to tell the story of Joseph who as time wears away his long overcoat,he continuously recycles this garment into something new. The die-cuts allow the children to...more
The author uses bright illustrations with a verse-style text to tell the story of Joseph who as time wears away his long overcoat,he continuously recycles this garment into something new. The die-cuts allow the children to...more
Summary
In "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat," Joseph begins the story wearing his beautiful plaid overcoat. Quickly, though, his coat becomes shabby. With each turn of the page, we discover that Joseph has made something new from what he had before. Children will love the vibrant artwork and trying to guess what is behind the cutouts on the next page. In the end, Joseph teaches that you can "always make something from nothing."
Response
I gave this book 5 stars because it demonstrates the qualities th...more
In "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat," Joseph begins the story wearing his beautiful plaid overcoat. Quickly, though, his coat becomes shabby. With each turn of the page, we discover that Joseph has made something new from what he had before. Children will love the vibrant artwork and trying to guess what is behind the cutouts on the next page. In the end, Joseph teaches that you can "always make something from nothing."
Response
I gave this book 5 stars because it demonstrates the qualities th...more
"You can always make something out of nothing." This is the moral that is given at the end of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. Even more importantly though, I think the book teaches the lesson that we don't have to throw something away the second that it gets slightly ruined or slightly less functional. Although the original song was probably not meant to be a lesson in environmentalism or recycling, these are issues that are important to me and I think this book could be used as a teaching school...more
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a book that encourages readers to read a folksong. The artwork in this book was done using watercolor, Gouache, pencil, ink and collage. The illustrations include colors such as dark red, green, blue, and many more with a black shadow like border. Children will enjoy the illustrations as Joseph has a variety of animals around or in his home; a cow, cat, dog, duck, chicken, horse- all of which are in the house at one time or another.
The story is about Joseph and hi...more
The story is about Joseph and hi...more
I think Simms Taback is my favorite author/illustrator! I love his mixture of murals and paintings. He uses so many bright colors in the peoples clothing, the animals and in the scenery. Joseph started with a little over coat and it got smaller and smaller with each two page spread. The over coat became a jacket, the jacket became a vest, the vest became a scarf, the scarf became necktie, the necktie became a handkerchief and the handkerchief became a button which he eventually lost. Then he had...more
This book is a very unique and different book. The pictures are darker than usual children’s books and there are cut out in the pages. When I first started reading it I though a kid cut part of the page out. However, with the story of this book the cutting out of the pages was actually extremely clever. I think it is something that would completely catch the attention of children when reading it to them. It is a very simple book and a quick read, however it teaches that no matter what you can a...more
Dec 09, 2011
Jade Nguyen
added it
1. { Genre }: Picture > Concept
2. { Summary }: If you're Joseph who had a little overcoat, you can make something out of nothing.
3a. { Area for comment }: Design, Message
3b. { Critique }:
A great example of using design to express a deeper message.
3c. { Critique Example }:
Usually I get overwhelmed when there is so much imagery and color thrown at me. However, Taback utilized space and color in such a way that doesn't overwhelm me. The use of cut-outs shows the next step that Joseph takes wh...more
2. { Summary }: If you're Joseph who had a little overcoat, you can make something out of nothing.
3a. { Area for comment }: Design, Message
3b. { Critique }:
A great example of using design to express a deeper message.
3c. { Critique Example }:
Usually I get overwhelmed when there is so much imagery and color thrown at me. However, Taback utilized space and color in such a way that doesn't overwhelm me. The use of cut-outs shows the next step that Joseph takes wh...more
1. Genre: Traditional Literature
2. Summary: This title is based on a Yiddish folk song that was loved by the author as a child. He adapted the song into a book which demonstrates the moral of the story, you can always make something out of nothing. The books illustrations are also very unique and colorful, portraying many different types of media.
3. Critique:
a. The books illustrations are wonderful and unique, while also demonstrating the moral of the story.
b. I believe that the major strength...more
2. Summary: This title is based on a Yiddish folk song that was loved by the author as a child. He adapted the song into a book which demonstrates the moral of the story, you can always make something out of nothing. The books illustrations are also very unique and colorful, portraying many different types of media.
3. Critique:
a. The books illustrations are wonderful and unique, while also demonstrating the moral of the story.
b. I believe that the major strength...more
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a die cut gem about a man who kept recycling his overcoat by making new smaller apparel items from it. Its format, illustrations and humor made it a cut above the rest, earning it the 2000 Caldecott Medal.
When Josesph's favorite overcoat got too shabby and holey, he made it into a jacket. He continues to recycle his garment as it becomes worn, as a vest, a scarf, a tie, a handkerchief and finally a button, which becomes lost. He procedes to make a...more
When Josesph's favorite overcoat got too shabby and holey, he made it into a jacket. He continues to recycle his garment as it becomes worn, as a vest, a scarf, a tie, a handkerchief and finally a button, which becomes lost. He procedes to make a...more
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is an exemplary book for many reasons. The story begins with the biblical parable of Joseph and his overcoat. Joseph's overcoat, however, becomes worn, so Joseph creates a vest from it. The vest becomes worn, so Joseph creates a tie. Eventually, Joseph creates a button that he lost so he has nothing. Joseph, however, creates a story, which teaches the reader that something can always be made out of nothing. I cannot think of a more appropriate ending for a childhood...more
After reading Simms Taback’s version of “There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” I thought that there would never be another die-cut formatted folk song book, but I have just recently read another folk song book called “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.” “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat” is a Caldecott Medal award-winning book by Simms Taback and it is about how a man named Joseph had an old overcoat and decided to make it into something new. “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat” is definitely a children’...more
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The innovation incorporated in this book's breakthrough artwork makes it no surprise to me that it was awarded the Caldecott Medal in the year 2000. Simms Taback's progressive idea of layering pictures with strategically placed holes in the paper to create shifting scenes from one page to the next has been frequently imitated in the years following the release of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, but rarely so well as in this book.
As Joseph's original overcoat garment continues to wear down, he mu...more
As Joseph's original overcoat garment continues to wear down, he mu...more
The illustrations in this story were unique as small sections from several pages were cut out to allow the illustrations from a previous or upcoming page to show through. In this story, a man used an old overcoat to create many other pieces of clothing. From his overcoat, he made a jacket. From his jacket, he made a vest. Next, he made a tie. Each time he decided to make something new out of his overcoat, the item of clothing got smaller and smaller. This was conveyed by the size of the cut-out....more
This book was based on a Yiddish folk song called “I Had a Little Overcoat”. The author adapted the song to make a book and this version contains his newest illustrations. The story begins with Joseph and his little, old, worn overcoat. Joseph proceeds to make the overcoat into a jacket, which also gets worn and old so he makes it into vest. He then makes it into a scarf, a tie, a handkerchief, and finally a button, which he loses. When he can no longer use the cloth, Joseph makes a book about i...more
1) Genre: Traditional
2) This is such a heartwarming “rags to riches" story. Joseph starts off with a little overcoat and over time, due to the wear and tear, the overcoat becomes smaller and smaller. His positive attitude throughout really gives the meaning to the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
3) Critique:
a) The message of making the most of out of life with the resources you’re given is the best feature of this book.
b) From the very beginning, the reader can tell th...more
2) This is such a heartwarming “rags to riches" story. Joseph starts off with a little overcoat and over time, due to the wear and tear, the overcoat becomes smaller and smaller. His positive attitude throughout really gives the meaning to the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
3) Critique:
a) The message of making the most of out of life with the resources you’re given is the best feature of this book.
b) From the very beginning, the reader can tell th...more
TRADITIONAL
This is a great book for read-a-louds, or to use in a music class. It is based off a yiddish folk song called, "I Had a Little Overcoat", and the sheet music with words is in the back. The story is about a man named Joseph, who has a little overcoat that is old and worn. With each turn of the page, Joseph's overcoat transforms into something else because it gets older and more worn. It becomes a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and finally a button. Then Joseph lose...more
This is a great book for read-a-louds, or to use in a music class. It is based off a yiddish folk song called, "I Had a Little Overcoat", and the sheet music with words is in the back. The story is about a man named Joseph, who has a little overcoat that is old and worn. With each turn of the page, Joseph's overcoat transforms into something else because it gets older and more worn. It becomes a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and finally a button. Then Joseph lose...more
A great book for children and grown ups alike. Here's why.
1. Children I have read this book to love the "cut out" formatted illustrations that accompany the text. They eagerly search out and ponder what form Joseph's ever shrinking overcoat will take. The shift from jacket to vest, which reveals a stout lady wearing what appears to be a turkey pattern, shawl is always a show stopper.
2. Even the most "goyish" grown up readers will find Taback's Hasidic folktale a joy as it enables them to interac...more
1. Children I have read this book to love the "cut out" formatted illustrations that accompany the text. They eagerly search out and ponder what form Joseph's ever shrinking overcoat will take. The shift from jacket to vest, which reveals a stout lady wearing what appears to be a turkey pattern, shawl is always a show stopper.
2. Even the most "goyish" grown up readers will find Taback's Hasidic folktale a joy as it enables them to interac...more
One of my favorite Caldecott winners, Joseph Had A Little Overcoat may not have a riveting story line (Joseph making his favorite overcoat into a new piece of clothing as it becomes worn), but it does have extremely interesting illustrations and a delightful layout overall. Taback used a variety of materials to illustrate this book, including watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink, and collage, creating bright, detailed pictures throughout each page. Every single page is covered with something differe...more
1. Summary: Joseph had an overcoat full of holes. When Joseph’s coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. The jacket then becomes too shabby so he makes a vest out of that. As the articles of clothing he makes become ragged, he makes something else out of it. He keeps reusing the same material.
2. ) reading level is for an emergent to early reader. Words are in the same place on every page and are short sentences.
Genre is fiction.
Topic: Resourcefulness, reusing things you have and...more
2. ) reading level is for an emergent to early reader. Words are in the same place on every page and are short sentences.
Genre is fiction.
Topic: Resourcefulness, reusing things you have and...more
Joseph once had a little overcoat and when it got old worn he made a jacket out of it. Everytime the piece of article that he made got old and worn he would make something new out of it. When that got old, Joseph makes it into a little jacket and until he makes it into a button. Then Joseph loses the button and makes a story out of it. While the children turn the pages they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat and understand the moral of th...more
Joseph had a little overcoat
by, SImms Taback
1. Brief Summary
Joseph had a little over coat that was full of holes just like the book that the story is written in. When Joseph's overcoat got too shabby, he kept making a variety of garments from this one article of clothing. By flipping the pages, children can guess what Joseph will be making next. Color illustrations throughout.
As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what a man will be making next out of h...more
by, SImms Taback
1. Brief Summary
Joseph had a little over coat that was full of holes just like the book that the story is written in. When Joseph's overcoat got too shabby, he kept making a variety of garments from this one article of clothing. By flipping the pages, children can guess what Joseph will be making next. Color illustrations throughout.
As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what a man will be making next out of h...more
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, based upon a Yiddish folk song, tells the story of Joseph, the owner of a brown plaid overcoat. As the story progresses, the fabric wears out, causing him to craft smaller and smaller articles of clothing out of the material – a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a tie, a handkerchief, etc.
When I originally skimmed through Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, I was very pleased. I was pleased because it was a unique story which carried the values of thriftiness and stewardship. But...more
When I originally skimmed through Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, I was very pleased. I was pleased because it was a unique story which carried the values of thriftiness and stewardship. But...more
This traditional book by Simms Taback is about a man named Joseph who has a little overcoat that is old and worn. On every page, Joseph’s overcoat turns into something else because it keeps getting older and more worn. Throughout the story, it transforms into a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and then at last, a button. Then, Joseph loses the button. This book is actually made into a song and the music and words are in the back. It’s simply adorable. Then once you read the la...more
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Simms Taback (born 1932) is an author and illustrator. He was born in the Bronx to a Jewish family. He is famous for illustrations for many children's books including, the Caldecott Medal winning, There was an Old Lady who Swallowed the Fly and Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, which have earned him many awards and praise in many circles. He was also a designer for CBS Records and The New York Times,...more
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