Joseph Had A Little Overcoat By Simms Taback

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
  1. Bibliography
Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. Viking, 2001.ISBN 97806708550


  1. Plot Summary
This book shows the many stages of a coat. Joseph starts the book off
by having an overcoat that quickly becomes warn, so it gets turned into a
jacket. The jacket wears out and becomes a vest. The vest turns into a
scarf, which gets turned into a necktie, then a handkerchief, then a button.
The story ends by Joseph losing the button and having nothing, but is able
to create a story out of the whole experience.


  1. Critical Analysis
The illustrations of this story are remarkable. A unique characteristic
Taback included are the cutouts in the shape of the next item the coat
will turn into.  There are Jewish emblems scattered throughout the entire
story including a menorah on page 10, the words mazel tov framed on page
22, and on page 20 there is a book laying on the floor entitled Jewish
Philosopher. My favorite scene in the book is on page 28, after Joseph had
lost his button. He was left with nothing, but the framed picture on the wall
states,” What one has, one doesn’t want, and what one wants, one doesn’t have.”
This is so true! How can such a simple children’s book have such a deep,
philosophical meaning? It’s genius!
  1. Review Excerpts
  • Caldecott Winner, 2000
  • National Jewish Book Award for Children’s Picture Book, 1999
  • Notable Children’s Book, 2000
  • Publisher’s Weekly:" With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual
humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud."



  1. Connections

  • To make the connection with the Jewish culture, watch a few clips
from Fiddler On the Roof, after reading this book
  • Have students draw comparisons between this book and Simms
Taback’s other book, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
  • Another book to use for connections is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus
Pfister

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