No Ordinary Jacket

by Sue-Ellen Pashley, Thea Baker (Illustrator)

What happens when you outgrow a cherished piece of clothing? An affectionate tale about letting go and watching the things you love take on a new life.

The jacket was no ordinary jacket. It was soft, like dandelion fluff. It was comforting, like a hug from your favorite teddy bear. And it had four dazzling buttons down the front.

Amelia wears her favorite jacket everywhere. She wears it to preschool. And to Aunty Kath’s house. And to the store. Even to bed! But one day, she can’t fit into it anymore. Perhaps she should give it to her little sister, Lilly? Then she can wear it everywhere . . . until it doesn’t fit her either, and the jacket can live on in other surprising ways. A reassuring text combines with enchanting collage illustrations to tell a story that is as warm and cozy as a well-loved coat.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2020

About the author

A writer of copious amounts of words (because if they didn’t come out, she’s sure her head would explode), Sue-Ellen writes everything from heart-warming romances to young adult fantasies to picture books. A best-selling, internationally published author, she’s an eternal optimist who enjoys making things difficult for her protagonists, but loves a satisfying ending. She loves quirky shoes, dark chocolate and a good tea.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little girl gets a jacket, it is soft and warm and has dazzling buttons. I don't think I have come across a jacket that isn't at least warm if not soft but as for the dazzling buttons, well they looked pretty ordinary. The girl gets too big and it is passed to a sibling, when she gets too big it is made into a teddy. I found the inside illustrations disappointing and the text was the bare minimum.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy story shows how one favorite jacket stays part of a little girl's life long after it stops fitting her. The illustrations beautifully portray the jacket and many other articles of clothing using real fabric with wonderfully bright patterns and appealing textures. My kids are accustomed to receiving hand-me-downs from older siblings, and to repurposing old things for new uses, and I think this book will really resonate with them. It reminds me of two others of their favorites as well: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat and The Quilt Story.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This s a nice twist on a classic tale--one of my favorite versions isSomething from Nothing, and I have told my own version of it many times. The art is lovely, with clever use of collage--the tree is especially clever, and you almost feel the textures of the clothing beneath your fingers. This is the sort of book that gives me hope that picture books--good picture books with actual stories and creative illustrations--are still possible in 2021.

[Ms. Arca · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet. A classic story about the many lives of a jacket— it was the art that sold this for me! Love the mixed/ racially ambiguous kiddos and the multimedia art❤️. It really added to the recycled / resourceful and sweet journey vibes!

Also, I’m counting this as single mama rep since the only adult was a lovely mama.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet little story. Its about a small girl who loves her jacket and wears it incessantly. But, alas, she outgrows it. The journey of this favorite jacket is touching and so sweet in this day when such an abundance of stuff engulfs society and no one seems to value any specific item to the extent that it becomes cherished.

The days of make-do, pass-it-along, and re-do with pieces of clothing are seemingly past. But perhaps there are a few families such as this one that finds ways to extend the life of a treasure by re-fitting it to a different purpose.

Especially sweet story of a little girl and an especially nice example of re-purposing something.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia wore she new jacket everywhere. It was warm and comforting - until the day it didn't fit any more and mom suggested she pass it down to sister Lilly. Amelia was sad to let her favorite jacket go, but reluctantly did it anyway. Soon, Lilly was wearing her new old jacket everywhere, too - until the day it didn't fit her any more either. So Lilly passed it down to her favorite doll, who wore it everywhere with Lilly - until Lilly went to school and stopped playing with dolls. By now, the jacket was pretty worn out and missing a button, forgotten about under Lilly's wardrobe. Until - the family cat found it and made a bed for her new kittens with it. Dirty, missing two buttons, with paint on the elbow and covered with cat hair, mom decides it is time to throw the jacket out. But Lilly remembered how special it was and didn't want to let it go. Clever mom knows just what to do and creatively gives the jacket new life and a new form to hand down to the new baby. The collage illustrations are done using fabric and paper adding texture and color to the otherwise muted background. This is a story that my young readers particularly liked, especially the end, but the whole story is as warm and cozy as the jacket itself.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue-Ellen Pashley's story will make readers frown for a while, then smile, then frown and smile again. That jacket, a wrapped gift shown on the title page, goes first to Amelia who loves it and wears it, "preschool, to Auntie Kath's house, to the park, to bed!" She did love it until it was too small. Yet then it was just right for younger sister, Lilly. I imagine you're guessing that it's a story of that jacket's history and the ending is like the gift has been wrapped up again with a beautiful bow. Thea Baker's mixed-media illustrations fill the pages with colorful fabrics and texture along with the up and down emotions.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tender story of a special jacket which is passed down to a younger sibling, then passed down again to the youngest sibling is as precious as the illustrations are gorgeous!

This circular story begins with:
"The jacket was no ordinary jacket.
It was soft, like dandelion fluff.
It was warm, like the afternoon sun.
It was comforting, like a hug from your favorite teddy bear.
And it had four dazzling buttons down the front."
And ends with:
"Mom was very clever. She measured and cut and sewed until...
the teddy bear was no ordinary bear.
It was soft, like dandelion fluff.
It was warm, like the afternoon sun.
It was comforting, like wearing your favorite jacket.
And it had two dazzling buttons down its front."

[Mizzy Mint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book. It shows how you outgrow your favorite jacket, and hand it down to your younger sibling. When that doesn't fit them anymore it goes to a doll. But after what do you do? Throw it away? No! You repurpose it into a teddy bear. It a very cute book that shows how you can upcycle and keep sentimental pieces of your youth by recycling the materials and making it into something new. I love the no waste message of this cutesy book. I love the art style that makes it look like other media is printed onto the page and it gives it character.

[Ashley Ewert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia has a favorite jacket, but eventually it becomes too small so she gives it to her sister. Then it becomes the dolls and then a bed for her cat to have kittens. Amelia loves this jacket and reminisces about all of the fun times that she had while wearing it. Her mom understands her love for the jacket and turns it into a teddy bear that Amelia can have forever.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginative collage illustrations show how extraordinary the jacket is to a girl and her family, and the poignant, poetic story emphasizes the ethos of reduce-reuse-recycle with creatively satisfying results. Reminiscent of Phoebe Gilman’s “Something from Nothing” in which a blanket is transformed into a jacket, vest, tie, handkerchief, and a button.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia loves her jacket, she wears it everywhere (even to bed). When she finally outgrows it, her mom suggests she give it to her little sister. Her little sister loves the jacket and wears it everywhere (even to the beach). But what happens when he outgrows it, too? A sweet story about sharing and repurposing and up-cycling. A solid, but not outstanding, choice for story time.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about a much-loved jacket and its alterations as each wearer out grows it and hands it down through the family.

Really gorgeous collage illustrations by Thea Baker make this a visual treat.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collage illustrations about an article of clothing that takes on special meaning in family.

[Brandon Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Dedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letting go of things we love can be hard. This book speaks to that in a very gentle way.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. I really liked some of the illustrative techniques. I would love that jacket :D

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me feel so sentimental reading this.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ordinary jacket gets passed down and becomes loved by those who used it, even if it's not a jacket.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet retelling of The Velveteen Rabbit, but with a favorite coat. The illustrations were remarkable-super cool collages of fabrics. Neat!

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Nicole Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really cute and relatable. I think we've all felt sentimental about an object from our childhood.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations!

[Lara Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a jacket and how it can be re-used to still be special in someone's life.

[Cecile · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the mixed media illustrations in this book. I liked the way the “ no ordinary jacket” stayed in the family and was repurposed when it was too worn to wear.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story and illustrations.

[linnybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm coming to really love the collage art style. There's something extra special about these illustrations - I never want to stop looking at them! The story is sweet and poignant, though a bit predictable. It really makes me remember what it felt like to be a kid, and books that do that will always rate highly in my eyes.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jacket by Sue-Ellen Pashley and illustrated by Thea Baker is the most superb little picture book. It’s like a comforting hug just before bedtime.

The Jacket is a story about a much loved colourful coat that is passed from Amelia to Lily, to Lilly’s dolls, the cat with her kittens and finally breathed new life in to once more as the worlds most fabulous teddy bear for Lilly’s younger brother. It’s a story about adventures, sentimental value and the emotional connections we make with much-loved clothes and treasured toys.

The Jacket is truly one of the most heartfelt and beautiful picture books I’ve held in a long time. Featuring a mix of stunning illustrations, clever collages and the layering of images, Thea Baker has done an outstanding job of bringing Sue-Ellen Pashley’s story to life. Featuring double-page illustrations, full of patterns, colours and layered detail this book’s illustrations are hard to adequately describe, except to say they are lifelike and literally jump off the page. On more than one occassion I found myself running my fingertips across the page half expecting to be able to feature the texture of the backgrounds and jumper; it was just all so real!

Sue-Ellen Pashely’s story is heartfelt and beautifully presented through simplistic styling. Featuring mainly short, one-line sentences, Pashley’s narrative takes us on a journey of love, creation, adventure and new life. It allows the reader to re-live their own memories and remember that item that we all hold near and dear to our heart. I loved seeing the personal journeys the jacket took with each new owner, the comfort it gave and the warmth it brought into their life. It’s a simple, but elaborately beautiful piece of clothing that keeps on giving – emotionally, mentally and physically.

The Jacket by Sue-Ellen Pashley and illustrated by Thea Baker is a delightful picture book that is sure to warm your heart and fill your bookshelves with love. It’s a picture book that will keep on giving and is a great educational tool as well (for the value of items, the need to pass it on and the way we can repurpose items that we no longer need or use). It’s clever, artistically beautiful, narratively brilliant and just a fantastic book to behold.

This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on the 14th July 2019

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This simply told, heartfelt narrative creates a touching, eloquent journey of love, quiet adventure, sharing, and how life moves on. It is bound to evoke memories of treasured items in both children and adults and encouragement to share those things, allowing the solace and happiness to spread to others. The text is clear, with one-line sentences and easy words, but each is packed full of meaning and allows a gentle rhythm to wash over the reader. The illustrations bring the tale to life with atmospheric, carefully considered colours and patterns, rich detail and exquisite, textural collages that layer the imagery giving depth and interest. This is a book to dive into, spend time with and absorb; a story that wraps around you with feelings of comfort, joy and wonder.