My Grandfather’s Coat

There was a time when nothing was thrown out, everything was reused. No one thought it odd to recycle whatever one had, because most had very little. This is the story of the handsome coat a very poor, young tailor makes for his wedding day. As time goes on, the coat becomes tattered and worn. The tailor cuts and trims, saving the cloth that is still good. He stitches and sews, until he has a fine new jacket. As time goes on and his family grows and changes, so does his handsome garment.

This charming story written by Jim Aylesworth reflects the history of one family with the story of grandfather’s coat as the centerpiece. It is an immigrant story, a Jewish story, a family story, with some lovely lessons hidden carefully in the story so no children will suspect they are learning anything. The perfect complement for this story is a set of enchanting illustrations by Barbara McClintock. The colors are soft and the illustrations have an old-fashioned quality to them. They tell the story every bit as much as the writing. This is a book adults reading to their children will enjoy as much as the youngsters will.