A review by kimberlyjerger
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
3.0
*3.5
2000 Caldecott Medal
Based on a traditional Yiddish folk song, Joseph Had A Little Overcoat features die-cut holes to tell the story of a coat repurposed again and again as the cloth grows threadbare, the holes diminishing in size as the original fabric grows smaller and smaller.
With limited, repetitive text, the details of the story lie in the artwork. The eclectic mix of artistic medium—from gouache to watercolor and collage—brings an additional element playfulness to the story. With bold, vibrant artwork, Taback weaves an interesting tale with a clear moral: you can always make something out of nothing.
2000 Caldecott Medal
Based on a traditional Yiddish folk song, Joseph Had A Little Overcoat features die-cut holes to tell the story of a coat repurposed again and again as the cloth grows threadbare, the holes diminishing in size as the original fabric grows smaller and smaller.
With limited, repetitive text, the details of the story lie in the artwork. The eclectic mix of artistic medium—from gouache to watercolor and collage—brings an additional element playfulness to the story. With bold, vibrant artwork, Taback weaves an interesting tale with a clear moral: you can always make something out of nothing.