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The Rag Coat
With paintings that capture all the beauty of Appalachia in authentic detail, this tender story about a resourceful mountain girl's special coat will touchreaders with its affirming message of love and friendship.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
December 30, 2009
3.5 Lovely illustrations and a pleasant story that is perhaps a bit too predictable and "full of heart" for its own good about a poor girl whose family cannot afford to buy her a coat--thus, she cannot go to school in the winter--and the kind women who eventually make her a quilted coat of scraps. She can go to school but, oh, do the children tease her about that coat! I should probably note that if I was a fan of Appalachian stuff I would likely have bumped this up a star but I've never been too keen on that subject so perhaps it diminished my enjoyment/appreciation of the tale.
November 20, 2020
They all wore black, black like the coal mines that killed my papa. He didn't even like black. He liked all the bright colors of the day.
This is a lovely book. I prefer children's books with natural illustrations, so this is near perfect for me. Lauren Mills provides an engaging narrative along with her softly-lit drawings to make this a worthwhile read for parents and tykes. In a world of children-as-bullies, this is also a good lesson to show kids that they don't need to conform to fit in, that the treasures of life need not be expensive.
"...people only need people, and nothing else."
Indeed.
Book Season = Autumn (back to school)
This is a lovely book. I prefer children's books with natural illustrations, so this is near perfect for me. Lauren Mills provides an engaging narrative along with her softly-lit drawings to make this a worthwhile read for parents and tykes. In a world of children-as-bullies, this is also a good lesson to show kids that they don't need to conform to fit in, that the treasures of life need not be expensive.
"...people only need people, and nothing else."
Indeed.
Book Season = Autumn (back to school)
February 17, 2015
This looks like an adaptation of the song "Coat of Many Colors."
October 6, 2022
This one reminded me of Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors".
January 14, 2020
The daughter of an Appalachian coal miner, Minna had always wanted to go to school, but with her family too poor to afford a coat - they attended church wrapped up in burlap feed sacks and a quilt - and her mother needing her help at home, it seemed like that was a dream which could never come true. When her father can no longer work, because of "miner's cough," and eventually dies, the family is worse off than ever. But then one day, the women in her mother's quilting circle learn the reason that Minna does not attend school, and propose a solution: the creation of a most unusual coat, made with all their old scraps of material. Delighted, at first, with this "rag coat," Minna is subsequently dismayed at the ridicule from her classmates. Can she show them that her coat has significance, not just for her, but for all of them as well...?
Having greatly enjoyed Lauren Mills' Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins in the past, as well as the illustrations she did for Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina , I suspected I would enjoy this Appalachian tale as well, and I was not disappointed. Although the resolution of The Rag Coat might feel a little too easy, with all Minna's classmates realizing how wrong they were to tease her, I found the story very realistic in other respects, particularly as it concerns the father's illness and death. I was moved by Mills' tale, and think that children who have known what it is to do without, or to lose a parent, will find it a comforting reassurance that things will get better. The artwork, done in watercolor, is simply lovely, with a beautiful but muted palette, and an overall sensibility that felt very in keeping with the story! All in all, a delightful picture-book, one I would recommend to fans of this author/artist, to readers who appreciate tales set in Appalachia, and to children who have experienced want and loss.
Having greatly enjoyed Lauren Mills' Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins in the past, as well as the illustrations she did for Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina , I suspected I would enjoy this Appalachian tale as well, and I was not disappointed. Although the resolution of The Rag Coat might feel a little too easy, with all Minna's classmates realizing how wrong they were to tease her, I found the story very realistic in other respects, particularly as it concerns the father's illness and death. I was moved by Mills' tale, and think that children who have known what it is to do without, or to lose a parent, will find it a comforting reassurance that things will get better. The artwork, done in watercolor, is simply lovely, with a beautiful but muted palette, and an overall sensibility that felt very in keeping with the story! All in all, a delightful picture-book, one I would recommend to fans of this author/artist, to readers who appreciate tales set in Appalachia, and to children who have experienced want and loss.
December 21, 2009
After Minna’s father dies from working in the coal mine, there is no money to buy her a coat so she can go to school. Her mother’s sewing group all work together to create a colorful coat for her out of rags and scraps and when Minna proudly wears it to school, she is mocked. But Minna has the last word in the end, showing the other children pieces of their past. Illustrated by the author.
This is a touching story set in Appalachia with beautiful watercolor illustrations. Empty spaces on the pages are filled with images of bits of cloth. It has a great lesson about friendship and community. Some children might not be ready for a book that includes the death of a parent, but the death is handled gracefully.
This is a touching story set in Appalachia with beautiful watercolor illustrations. Empty spaces on the pages are filled with images of bits of cloth. It has a great lesson about friendship and community. Some children might not be ready for a book that includes the death of a parent, but the death is handled gracefully.
March 22, 2025
When I was 7 or 8, I'm sure this would have been one of my favorite books, and I think the kids of today will like it, too. Kids are likely to remember:
- a coat can be made of rags,
- Minna didn't go to school because she didn't have a coat, and
- her father died because he worked in a mine.
Those are enough big ideas for one short picture book.
The art fits the story beautifully.
- a coat can be made of rags,
- Minna didn't go to school because she didn't have a coat, and
- her father died because he worked in a mine.
Those are enough big ideas for one short picture book.
The art fits the story beautifully.
February 5, 2017
This book was great because it can be used to really teach children to not pick on others and to be thankful for what they have. I would use this book as a good book to teach a lesson on how to treat others.
August 10, 2011
This book has beautiful illustrations and a touching message. Even as an adult, I'm constantly reminding myself that "people only need people, nothing else." This is a hard thing to remember as life with people can be messy and at times unpleasant. But I truly believe that getting involved in the lives of others is the best way we can spend our time on earth.
October 29, 2017
Implausible and preachy. The rest of Minna's outfit and home seemed comfortable enough; she even wore shoes inside! Laura Ingalls didn't; shoes were for Sunday only! Nice idea, though.
January 19, 2014
This book is a well written and illustrated story of a little very poor girl from the Appalachian area. Her Daddy worked in the coal mines and thus ended up getting very sick and eventually did pass away. She was only 7 when he died but while he was sick she wasn't able to go to school due to not having warm clothes and she had to stay home and help her Mother with carding wool so her Mom could make quilts to sell. She also helped care for her younger brother so her Momma could quilt from sunup to sundown. After her Dad's passing the women of the community would come to their home to quilt, and she mentioned that she'd like to have a coat like the pretty quilts. The women took time out of quilting to make money to make her coat. They each brought scraps from their own families and all the while telling Minna the stories behind each of the scraps. She was so excited to make friends at school and eventually share her oat. She was saddened when the first time she wore it everyone made fun of her she ran off upset. Then she remembered what her Daddy had told her and she went back and then told each the story of 'their' rag in her coat. One boy's scrap was from a blanket that saved his life as a newborn, another was a scrap from an old coat that was wrapped around a favorite pet to save it's life. etc. The school children knew then that Minna had more than just a coat it was something very precious.
This story will bring tears to your eyes so very hard to read out loud to young children. Young children won't completely understand the emotions behind the story. This is a special book to help teach older children compassion, love, and how to see others needs before yours. This book was referred to me to read due to I'm currently reading about Martha Morse, Laura Ingallas Wilder's great grandmother. On a website from the author of the Martha books she had recommended this book to help understand the way wool from sheep is worked up (carded, spun etc) and made into our clothing we need for daily living. And although this isn't a stage by stage to do that. It does start with the carding of the wool and how scratchy it is and how momma makes it into a quilt, and even how Minna made her own doll and stuffed it with the wool.
A very beautifully written and illustrated book.
This story will bring tears to your eyes so very hard to read out loud to young children. Young children won't completely understand the emotions behind the story. This is a special book to help teach older children compassion, love, and how to see others needs before yours. This book was referred to me to read due to I'm currently reading about Martha Morse, Laura Ingallas Wilder's great grandmother. On a website from the author of the Martha books she had recommended this book to help understand the way wool from sheep is worked up (carded, spun etc) and made into our clothing we need for daily living. And although this isn't a stage by stage to do that. It does start with the carding of the wool and how scratchy it is and how momma makes it into a quilt, and even how Minna made her own doll and stuffed it with the wool.
A very beautifully written and illustrated book.
March 15, 2015
The Rag Coat is about a young girl named Minna who wants to go to school. Although she’s old enough to attend school, she was needed at home to assist her mom with quilt making. Her dad was a coal miner and died from work related illnesses. Minna is ready to start school but with the recent death of her father, and not having a coat, she isn’t able to attend. A group of Quilting Mothers, who gather at Minna’s house daily, offered to make her a winter coat from scrap materials. Minna chose warm colors because those were her dad’s favorite. She even included a piece of her Dad’s mining coat. Once the coat is completed, Minna eagerly heads to school. She was in utter disbelief and very upset with her classmates mean comments and reactions to her “Rag Coat”. Minna explains that her coat is full of stories about each student and that the quilted pieces have come from their houses. The children’s reactions then change.
“People only need people, and nothing else” This book is all about the power of friendship, importance of working together, sharing and helping others. It’s great at building a positive classroom community. It touches on real life experiences, most importantly, the humiliation of poverty. The illustrations are detailed, natural looking and colorful, adding to the depth of the book. The book is quite said and I question the intended age group.
“People only need people, and nothing else” This book is all about the power of friendship, importance of working together, sharing and helping others. It’s great at building a positive classroom community. It touches on real life experiences, most importantly, the humiliation of poverty. The illustrations are detailed, natural looking and colorful, adding to the depth of the book. The book is quite said and I question the intended age group.
April 24, 2016
This book tells a heartwarming story about a little school girl and her community. The young girl has been through many hardships and comes from a family rich with love but poor in terms of money. Her community comes together to help her and provide her with a generous gift, however her classmates make fun of her for it. The story shows the little girls strength and courage and will make everybody smile. We can learn from her how to overcome bullies and bring the community together.
I would use this book in my classroom to teach about bullying. We could compare the perspectives of her and her classmates to show that it is important to understand that everyone had had hard experiences and to respect that. The young character also shows how to respectfully stand up to bullies. We would also see what could can happen when a community comes together to help others.
This book was one of my favorite of all time. I loved the message it shared and the courage and humbleness of the young girl. This book shares important, complex life lessons in a kid friendly manner. It is a great book for all ages.
I would use this book in my classroom to teach about bullying. We could compare the perspectives of her and her classmates to show that it is important to understand that everyone had had hard experiences and to respect that. The young character also shows how to respectfully stand up to bullies. We would also see what could can happen when a community comes together to help others.
This book was one of my favorite of all time. I loved the message it shared and the courage and humbleness of the young girl. This book shares important, complex life lessons in a kid friendly manner. It is a great book for all ages.
September 3, 2010
This one may be a little too advanced/serious for my 4 yr old. Will save for next summer?
Picture Book Activities
Day 1: ask questions and learn How to Make a Happy Day rhyme and sing Clementine
Day 2: find Appalachian Mountains on map, jump rope rhymes
Day 3: Sewing practice? Rag Coat Collage?
Day 4: look at Nana's quilt calendars/books (hopefully find Joseph's Coat of Many Colors pattern) and read about Joseph and his brothers in Genesis
Day 5: sharing with those in need- food pantry, personal needs pantry, Goodwill
Didn't end up doing any of the activities, but read it several times as part of the library's summer reading program (he only keeps track of time, not number of books). He seemed to enjoy it, although did ask about why the dad died almost at every reading. The last illustration confused him too, because since her head is down, he thought she was sad again, although the story seems to be saying the opposite.
Picture Book Activities
Day 1: ask questions and learn How to Make a Happy Day rhyme and sing Clementine
Day 2: find Appalachian Mountains on map, jump rope rhymes
Day 3: Sewing practice? Rag Coat Collage?
Day 4: look at Nana's quilt calendars/books (hopefully find Joseph's Coat of Many Colors pattern) and read about Joseph and his brothers in Genesis
Day 5: sharing with those in need- food pantry, personal needs pantry, Goodwill
Didn't end up doing any of the activities, but read it several times as part of the library's summer reading program (he only keeps track of time, not number of books). He seemed to enjoy it, although did ask about why the dad died almost at every reading. The last illustration confused him too, because since her head is down, he thought she was sad again, although the story seems to be saying the opposite.
February 10, 2015
Minna is a child of poverty. Living in Appalachia, when her father dies as a result of working in the mines, life is even more difficult. Minna longs to attend school, but does not have a winter coat to protect her from the cold.
When her mother's friends from a quilting society, gather their unused scraps of material, a beautiful coat of many colors is sewn for Minna.
Happy to attend school, Minna discovers that her rag coat is an object for bullying. Trying to fit in, Minna turns the table and points to specific blocks of material which were sewn from her classmates objects.
This lovely illustrated book deals with difficult subjects of death, poverty and bullying.
When her mother's friends from a quilting society, gather their unused scraps of material, a beautiful coat of many colors is sewn for Minna.
Happy to attend school, Minna discovers that her rag coat is an object for bullying. Trying to fit in, Minna turns the table and points to specific blocks of material which were sewn from her classmates objects.
This lovely illustrated book deals with difficult subjects of death, poverty and bullying.
June 18, 2015
This is an older picture book but we loved it as much as some of the newer titles we have brought home. It tells a sweet story of a young girl in an Appalachian setting who can't go to school because she hasn't got a coat to keep her warm in the winters. Instead she stays at home to help her Ma and Pa, especially Ma who needs help with the cloth scraps to make into quilt pieces. My 6 y.o. boy stayed engaged through the whole story, and was interested in the pictures showing boys and girls from an older time period. This had a nice message of appreciating the people and small things that make our lives more special.
April 7, 2016
This was an amazing read- definitely a re-read. It tells the story of a girl whose father dies and she doesn't go to school for a while. When she does she is an outcast. I loved how I could connect with her. It showed the importance of family and the importance of accepting each other. I actually read this with my sister and I cried. It touches the heart because everyone can connect with losing family in one way or another. If not, they can at least sympathize with her. The rag coat was a beautiful metaphor for the collaboration, and the pictures were stunning. This book has so many amazing details that you will just have to read to find out about!
April 27, 2009
Minna doesn't have a coat, but she has one of her mother's quilts and she has her father. When Minna's father can't mine any more because of miner's cough, Minna must stay to help her mother quilt to make money for the family. Just before Minna's father dies, he tells her that it's time for her to go to school, but Minna was worried because she doesn't have a coat. The story goes on to tell of how Minna got her coat. It's a book about family, community, quilting, acceptance and the stories that bind us all together.
July 27, 2018
What a beautiful story! It was meaningful, sweet and incredibly touching. A must read!
Ages: 6 - 9
Cleanliness: children tease Minna at school, but she responds appropriately and they later ask for forgiveness.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 6 - 9
Cleanliness: children tease Minna at school, but she responds appropriately and they later ask for forgiveness.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
November 21, 2011
An excellent book that shows a girl who must deal with the death of her father. Since he dies and was the bread winner for the family, she does not have a coat to wear to school. Her mother's friends team up to sew her a coat. When she wears the coat she is teased because of the patchwork, but the patches all reveal something about her classmates. A good book to discourage bullying by showing that we all have something in common or can learn fronm one another.
March 31, 2012
This book is about a little girl who cannot go to school, because she doesn't have a coat to wear in the cold weather. When some ladies make her a coat out of old scraps, she is made fun of at school. Little did the other children know, the scraps were full of their memories, and they realize how special her rag coat is. I thought this book was very inspirational, teaching students not to judge so quickly and to see the beauty in things that they may have not considered beautiful.
October 10, 2014
Absolutely beautiful. The story, the illustration, all of it is just beautiful. Being a southern girl from just below the North Georgia Smokey Mountains a story like this resignates with my ancestral history and gives me another reason to love it. Definitely on my to-buy wishlist. This will be a great addition to the history section to study earlier Americans, yet it could also span cultures with similarity.
March 26, 2015
This has to be one of my favorite books from my childhood, and I was elated that I happened upon it in my school's library. This book, though it takes place in a much earlier time, can resonate with children of today. It is a story of love and friendship that truly touches the heart. The beautiful illustrations add to the heart-warming tale. Add this to the list of books that I will purchase for my future classroom library!
October 6, 2022
I loved this book. It's so precious!
SPOILERS AHEAD:
When I read the dad ended up dying I was so sad! I half expected it, but also kind of not and hoped he would have gotten better. It's a lovely story and the illustrations were wonderful. I enjoyed it. I also liked how one of the children that made fun of Minna ended up telling the teacher the truth herself instead of Minna telling the teacher what really happened.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
When I read the dad ended up dying I was so sad! I half expected it, but also kind of not and hoped he would have gotten better. It's a lovely story and the illustrations were wonderful. I enjoyed it. I also liked how one of the children that made fun of Minna ended up telling the teacher the truth herself instead of Minna telling the teacher what really happened.
July 20, 2010
A beautiful book! This would be a great story to read before a lesson on economics and the effect community and friendship have on everyone, rich or poor. The illustrations are wonderful and the story is very touching- this would be good to read in a Literacy Circle by having the students make connections between the book and what they've been studying.
February 17, 2011
This is a great story about a girl who receives a rag coat made of all sorts of different fabrics from different people. This would be a great book to use for inferring and predictions. It's lengthy but can be split into two days for the younger elementary grade levels. The storyline is easy to understand and it would be great for any elementary grade.
October 6, 2011
This was one of my favorite books as a child. It always made me cry. The story is long and sad but the little girl is so strong and nice. She is bullied in the book and she almost goes home but she turns around and faces her peers. She tells them all about her coat and I think this book really explains to children that you never know what somebody is going or has been through.
November 18, 2011
I read this book to my children as part of a homeschool unit on the history of coal mining in the USA. I had to stop and gather myself a number of times as I read aloud to them. At times I could barely speak as I choked-up. I hadn't pre-read it and so had no idea how touching the story is. A treasure!!
April 30, 2013
This is a great book about a little girl who is poor and doesn't have a coat to wear to school. She gets one made for me of little pieces of material and when she arrives at school she is teased. Once the children realize that this jacket is filled with her memories she gets the las laugh. This would be a good book for 3-4 grade.
April 30, 2013
This is a warm (no pun intended!) story of people - that is, "people only need people, and nothing else." Even bullying rears its ugly head in this tale, but we can use it to stress to our children the idea that we all need to come together and help each other, not alienate those who may be different.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews