A rollicking, rhyming, fun rendition of a favorite folksong about a many-times recycled coat -- by the award-winning, bestselling team of Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock. Sydney Taylor Award Winner"A moving tale of love and regeneration." -- The New York Times When my grandfather came to America he made himself a handsome coat!Then he wore it and he wore it and he wore it--until it was all worn out!So what did he do? He snipped and he clipped--and he stitched and he sewed. . . and out of the still-good cloth of his coat--he made himself a smart jacket! How many things can Grandfather makeout of that old frayed coat? Jim Aylesworth's satisfying retelling and Barbara McClintock's heart-warming pictures celebrate the clever recycling of a beloved coat that lasts four generations -- until it becomes this story! PreS-Gr 2—This new adaptation of the Yiddish folk song presented in Simms Taback's Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Viking, 1999) and Phoebe Gilman's Something from Nothing (Scholastic, 1992) is a fresh rhythmic retelling with charming cartoon-style illustrations that deserves a place even in collections that own the other two. Aylesworth's story, told in the voice of the main character's granddaughter, recounts highlights of her grandfather's life: coming to America, becoming a tailor, and making himself "a handsome coat…that he wore on his wedding day!" The worn coat becomes "a smart jacket"; the shabby jacket, "a snazzy vest"; the frayed vest, "a stylish tie." In this version, the threadbare tie is transformed into a toy for a great grandson's kittens, then a cozy nest for a mouse and her babies. As in both older versions, this one features repetition and a rhyming refrain. McClintock's pen-and-ink detailed watercolor illustrations highlight four generations of family history. Following the title-page scene that shows ships streaming toward Ellis Island, then a photolike pose of grandfather as a boy on deck passing the Statue of Liberty, the story unfolds in two-to-three small vignettes per page, each accompanied by a snippet of text, with a full-page scene at each major juncture. The paintings highlight McClintock's special skill for aging grandpa. Her eye for detail is apparent in ever-changing clothing styles; in a sole coming loose from young grandpa's shoe; and the evolution of his sewing machines from treadle to modern motorized. This is a tale worth reading again and again.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH Praise and Distinctions for My Grandather's Coat :Sydney Taylor Award Winner Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the YearNew York Public Library's 100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing "A moving tale of love and regeneration." -- The New York Times * "The narrative and illustrations make a perfect whole. Sweet and tender and joyful." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review* "This is a tale worth reading again and again." -- School Library Journal , starred review* "Based on the Yiddish folksong "I Had a Little Overcoat," this splendid tale chronicles four generations. Aylesworth and McClintock perform a lovely pas de deux, from a boy's arrival at Ellis Island to his story being shared with a great-grandson....Warmth emanates from this thoughtful book, which deserves to become a multigenerational family favorite." -- Publisher's Weekly , starred review "Well-paced pages, spreads, and vignettes that nicely celebrate one family's ongoing affection and continuity." -- The Horn Book "This tale of family, creativity, and resourcefulness is a warm, touching read-aloud." -- Booklist Jim Aylesworth tells his stories with generous doses of "out loud" sounds, rhythms, and rhymes. His twenty-five-year teaching career taught him exactly what children love best in a story. He lives in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife. Barbara McClintock has written and/or illustrated over 40 distinguished books for children. Emma and Julia Love Ballet which she wrote and illustrated, received three starred reviews, and My Grandfather's Coat , retold by Jim Aylesworth, also received three starred reviews and was named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book. Her books have five times been named New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books. She has received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, as well as a myriad of other awards and honors. Barbara lives in Connecticut with her family and their four very graceful cats.