BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN: 0670878553

PLOT SUMMARY:

Joseph has an overcoat that is very old and worn. He decides to make a jacket out of the overcoat. When the jacket becomes worn, he makes a vest, when the vest is worn out, he makes a scarf, the scarf becomes a tie, the tie becomes a handkerchief which eventually becomes a button to fasten his suspenders.

One day the button pops off and is lost. Now there is nothing left of the overcoat. Joseph decides to make a book about the story of his overcoat and the many different uses it had. The moral of the story is you can always make something from nothing.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

This story, originally published in 1977, is based on a Yiddish folk song that was a favorite from the author’s childhood called “I Had a Little Overcoat”. The music and lyrics are printed on the last page of the book. This 1999 version of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat includes newly created illustrations by Taback and received both the Caldecott Medal and The Louis Posner Memorial Award.

The text of the story is simple and sequential. The overcoat dwindles in size as Joseph tailors it into new articles of clothing. Especially delightful is the use of die cut shapes for each transformation of the overcoat. Children can guess what the next transformation of the overcoat will be from the die cut shape. Once the page is turned, the reader gets a clear view of the new piece of clothing.

The illustrations are rich and vibrant and comprised of collage, gouache, watercolor and pen and ink. There is much detail on each page, fun patterns and prints in the textiles. The mixture of cut out newsprint and photos adds to the extra details on each page. Adults may chuckle over some of the sideline details such as a newspaper lying on the ground with the headlines “Fiddler Falls Off Roof” and the cross stitched messages on the walls in Joseph’s home. Children will enjoy the colorful details in the farm animals, fruits and vegetables and the many friends and family that surround Joseph.

The story delivers a wonderful message about the possibilities of reuse. Thirty years after the first publication, the message is still an important one. The moral of the story, you can always make something from nothing, ties in beautifully with the message on the value of recycling.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Publishers Weekly: “With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”

School Library Journal: “A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit.”

Booklist: “Taback’s mixed media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity.”

CONNECTIONS:

• Have a classroom discussion on recycling and reusing. Have the class each bring an item that can be recycled into a new use; for example a soup can become pencil holder.

• Books about recycling and reusing:

Meachen Rau, Dana. A Box Can Be Many Things. ISBN: 978-0516261539

Roca, Nuria. The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. ISBN: 978-0764135811

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Levine, Ellen. 2007. Henry’s Freedom Box. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0763635190

PLOT SUMMARY:

In the mid nineteenth century, young Henry Brown is a slave living with his brothers and sisters in a large house with a kind master. When the master falls ill, Henry dreams he will be set free, only to be sold off to a new master. Separated from his family, Henry is very sad. He goes to work every day in his new master’s tobacco factory. Henry meets another slave named Nancy. He feels happiness again and soon, Henry and Nancy get married. They both work for different masters, but are lucky enough to live together and have three beautiful children. One day Henry learns that his wife and three children have been sold and sent away while he is at work. He runs to the town center only to get there and see his family in a cart disappearing down the road.

Knowing he would never see his family again, Henry could think only of freedom.
Henry makes a courageous plan to be shipped up to friends in Philadelphia in a crate. The trip takes 27 hours, traveling on a boat and a train, upside down and right side up. He eventually arrives in Philadelphia, finally achieving his dream of freedom.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

This 2008 Caldecott Honor title is a dramatic tale told from events that actually happened. The history of slavery and consequences of children being separated from brothers and sisters and parents can be a frightening subject to learn about. This story should be shared with discussion of slavery and the risks that people took to gain freedom.

The illustrations of Nelson Kadir are powerful. He uses a mix of cross-hatching with pencil, watercolor and oils inspired by an original lithograph of the actual event. The colors are rich and the use of light within the scene depicts the pictures mood. The drawings are realistic and placement and cropping of the pictures help to convey the emotion of the story. The large double page spread of Henry, his head bent down at work depicts his sorrow and distraction over his worries of losing his family. This is a bittersweet story from an important part of our history. The illustrations are outstanding and bring the story to life.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Starred review in Booklist: “A brief author’s note confirms the details of the story, but it’s the dramatic artwork that brings this emphatically to life.”

Starred review in Kirkus: “Nelson’s powerful portraits add a majestic element to Levine’s history-based tale of Henry “Box” Brown.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “These powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story.”

CONNECTIONS:

•To see the original lithograph that inspired this book:
http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/brownbox/menu.html

•For other books about slavery and freedom:

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. ISBN: 0786851759

Stroud, Bettye. The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom. ISBN: 978-0763635190

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Marcus, Leonard. 2007. Pass It Down: Five Picture-Book Families Make Their Mark. New York, NY: Walker & Co. ISBN: 978-0802796004

PLOT SUMMARY:

Leonard Marcus presents five families involved with children’s picture books and shares their stories. While each family is very different, there is a common theme of parents involving their children with their art and writing projects. Each family shares memories of the beginning of their career in children’s books along with illustrations, early sketches, storyboards and photographs.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

This book contains illustrations from books that may be familiar to many readers. The chance to hear how their stories and illustrations came into being allows for a fascinating view into the lives of authors and artists. Each chapter tells the story of one of the five families. Especially effective is the side by side comparison of early sketches of an idea next to the final illustration.

Children and young adults may be inspired by the stories of these families and the paths they followed to their careers. This book will also be of interest to adults involved with children’s literature. This book reinforces the value of involving children and learning by participation.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews: “Fascinating . . . An outstanding work about the connections between parents and children, editors and artists and readers and writers.”

School Library Journal: The book will be of interest to those readers who enjoy getting behind the scenes of the books they love.

CONNECTIONS:

• Other books dealing with the authors and artists and how they began their careers:

Marcus, Leonard. Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work.
ISBN: 978-0802796165

Cummings, Pat. Talking with Artists: Volume 1. ISBN: 978-0027242454