The Rag Coat

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 show more 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. show less

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.

This is about a young girl who needs a new winter coat so she can go to school, but her family cant afford one. Her father dies and her mom has to work as a knitter. Her knitter community decides that they will all combine their old rags to make a coat for this girl. The kids at school make fun of her, but when she points out that the coat is made from their old favorite rags they become interested and apologize. This teaches students to be kind and understanding. I would recommend this for second or third graders.

This is a sweet story with charming pictures! I wish I had the patience and skill for quilt making, and I love storytelling, so this story was a hit with me. I also liked that Minna, at the end of the book, gains the courage to return to school after being hurt by the bullies. Sweet.

A story about a young girl growing up in Appalachia, this is a very touching book. Minna wants to go to school, but she has to stay home to help her widowed Mama take care of her siblings and do chores around the house. Her father had always promised Minna that she would have a beautiful coat to wear to school, and with him gone now it is up to her to make one. I would recommend this book to students in 2nd- 4th grade.

The Rag Coat is a longer picture book that is easy to read. It handles tough topics such as family deaths. bullying, and apologizing. The main character shows that not everything is what it seems. The other students make fun of her coat, but apologize for their wrong doings when they find out how much meaning it has.

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.