Summary: Anna has grown out of her coat and her mother is determined to get her a new one. They have little money, hardly anyone does, but somehow they will find a way to get the new coat.

Review: A beautiful tale of sacrifice and caring. An entire community comes together to help one another and Anna's mother teaches her about how she is more precious than jewels or gold.

Craft Elements/Lesson Activities: Pretend you are Anna and write a letter to your mother. What would you say to her about all she has done to get you a new coat? ( )

thrift store score
I'm sure other reviews are more thorough. I certainly think it's a worthwhile book, and sort of enjoyable, worth 3.5 stars. But I just can't look at the cover picture (of the edition I read) and not think about the very high likelihood that those sheep are going to eat the buttons right off the coat - they do that, you know! ( )

This picture book is about a young girl who needs a new coat. Her mother doesn't have the money to purchase one so she has to barter for the materials for the craftsmen to create a new coat. Set during WWll in a European country, people are financially struggling to meet needs in a post war economies in torn nations. The struggles that families go through due to a financial crisis and lost of a family member are one of the theme present in this book. With a setting present in a book, it heightens suspense as the reader wonders what happens next. Overall, very simplistic and easy to read. ( )

40 months - A beautiful book about hard times and truly understanding what it takes to make a piece of clothing from the cost to the number of individuals and the steps involved. We will have to read this one again. ( )

A small book, packing a lot of power. Set in post WWII, it is obvious that people are financially struggling. Anna lives with her father. While it isn't mentioned, the reader wonders if perhaps her father was killed in the war. Anna is growing and needs a coat. With no money to purchase a new one, Anna's mother barters her precious possessions to have wool from sheep to make the coat, to have someone take the wool and spin it, to have someone weave the cloth, and then to find a tailor to make the beautiful red coat.

This is a story of patience, of love and of sacrifice.