Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a charming and inventive children’s picture book that tells the story of Joseph, a Jewish man who owns a cherished overcoat. As the coat wears out, Joseph continually repurposes it into smaller and smaller items, including a jacket, a vest, and finally a button.
The book features vibrant, collage-style illustrations that bring Joseph’s inventive spirit to life and complement the rhythmic, repetitive text. As Joseph’s coat is transformed, the story emphasizes themes of resourcefulness and resilience.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is notable for its engaging, playful narrative and its creative use of materials in the illustrations, which reflect the coat’s various reincarnations. The book won the Caldecott Medal for its distinctive artwork and its ability to delight both children and adults with its humor and ingenuity.
