Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Library Bag: The Rag Coat

Sometimes it's difficult to explain poverty--or the importance of charity--to children. Good books can bridge that gap of understanding.

I've tried to highlight every good children's book I've found on this subject. Thanks to the readers who recommended The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills.

The narrator is an Appalachian girl who can't afford the coat she needs to attend school; her beautiful patchwork solution is made fun of by the other students. The Rag Coat's charming illustrations and snowy setting make it a great family read-aloud before gathering your outgrown coats for a winter clothing drive.


From the archives, other children's books related to thrift and/or scarcity of resources:
Elizabeti's Doll
Joseph Had A Little Overcoat
The Ox Cart Man
The Hundred Dresses

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

We love The Rag Coat (and it is a part of our curriculum). Another great book along a similar theme is A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert -- it is set at the end of WWII and focuses on patience, resourcefulness and bartering ... we don't get what we want right now, we have to work for it and be patient.

Anonymous said...

I will have to check this out. Thanks for sharing!

Shannon said...

This book looks great. I really appreciate your book recommendations -especially for kids books. I usually go straight to the library's website to reserve it:)

Jenny's Vegcafe said...

I just put a library hold on it.. thanks. My number one favorite thrifty tip is to make use of your local library.

Jeana said...

Some good Christmas ones are December (about a homeless boy in his mother, living in a box on Christmas Eve. They share what little they have and things turn around for them by the next December) and Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters. (about Christmas on a slave plantation--good for Christmas and also good for studying about plantations or life in the 1800's. It's a bit long, with chapters.)

Unknown said...

is this by Dolly Parton? If you haven't heard it, she has a song along those lines called "Coat of Many Colors" that is really lovely.

enjoy your blog a lot btw.

Janette said...

I used to read this to my classes every year. The last two years I have not- because the children of the rag coats are often my students these days....

TracyMichele said...

Thank you for this fabulous post! I have been trying to work with the littles on the subject. My 4yo is starting to get it but when there is a way I can introduce a book AND a concept.. WOOHOO!

Anonymous said...

The Family under the Bridge is also great for explaining about homelessness. It was one of the kindergarten-level picks in our Sonlight homeschool curriculum.

Cathy

Alicia said...

Thanks so much for this little list! This is an area that I want my children to better comprehend.

Scribbit said...

I'll have to look at that one, I know Joseph Had a Little Coat and it's a great one.

Hopewell said...

Another good one is "Coat of Many Colors" by singer Dolly Parton.

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh!!...I have to get the Kleenex box out now! That book reminds me of Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors". What a wonderful song. (o:

There's a book my kids used to check out of our church's library, & I'm having trouble remembering if the title is "A New Coat for Anna" or "Anna's New Coat". It takes place somewhere in Europe, after the war, & it goes through the steps required by one family to get a new coat for the little girl, everything from berry-picking to make dye, to trading jewelry. A good read!

Brenda

Edi said...

we've read them all except the first one you mentioned...was gonna look it up online at our library but their website appears to be down. Hope I remember to check later.

I really liked "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat" - very cute story.

Anonymous said...

Harriet Zieferts: A New Coat for Anna. My #1 favorite book. And so appropriate for this topic.
Grace.

Mimi said...

That book looks lovely! And, I'm sure it helps children identify with the needs of others.

As some have said, that does remind me of the Dolly Parton song. I saw an interview where she said she based the song on a real coat that her mother made her.

Anonymous said...

I have to echo the others who recommended "A New Coat for Anna" It's such a wonderful, true story and the illustrations are a delight! Next time we visit the library I'll have to bring along the list of books you recommended :)