Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Category: Picture Book
Title: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Author: Retold by Simms Taback
Illustrator: Simms Taback
Publisher: Viking : New York
Publication Date: 1999
Grade Level: preK-2
Genre: Traditional Literature
Theme: You can always make something out of nothing.
Number of Pages: 32 pages

Summary: Joseph finds a way to recycle his overcoat many times over in this Caldecott Medal winner.

Evaluation: This is a clever tale that brings readers along for the ride as Joseph smartly cuts his worn overcoat down multiple times to create other items. The plot is unique and fun for young children to follow. The illustrations are engaging, with bright colors that are done in a collage style that is folksy and offers a look of texture. The artwork would be appropriate for reading aloud, and it also would be welcome when reading to an individual child because of the many details in each spread that could be examined.

Compared to the multimedia version of the story (Scholastic : 2001), the picture book would be better for reading one-on-one, while the video would be good for a group of young children who would find the story and the accompanying musical score fun.