A New Coat For Anna by Harriet Ziefert

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Unfortunately at the time of writing, this book is not listed on bookshop.org, so I have included the Amazon link. You can also try Abebooks for second hand books too.

I happened to come across this beautiful book on my hunt for good stories for our read aloud time. This one came up time and again from homeschoolers - and I can see why! A New Coat For Anna tells the story of a young girl and her mother after the Second World War, and how the mother goes to great lengths to ensure her daughter has a new coat for winter. At a time when shelves were still empty and money was scarce, Anna’s mother decided to sell her possessions in exchange for all she would need to see the coat completed. 

This story captures each step in making a new coat in that era and in those difficult times. It highlights the many individuals and skills involved in designing this new coat for Anna. From getting the wool from the sheep to getting it tailored and the buttons on, there is something beautiful to learn about every step along the way. Each time, Anna’s mother trades in something precious that she owns in exchange for what she needs for the coat. It is a beautiful story of her sacrifice and determination to see it through. 

The illustrations by Anita Lobel, (who was married to children’s author of the Frog and Toad series, Arnold Lobel), are simply breathtaking. The detailed illustrations draw the reader in. Very young children can appreciate the storytelling through the gorgeous pictures, alongside older children and adults. Every picture adds to the beauty of the story and helps to explain what is happening visually in this time period. 

I think this story appeals for how it captures the spirit of the post-war era, the resolve to see something through to completion, skills that children and adults perhaps have not heard of before or are not familiar with today, and it teaches valuable lessons of waiting patiently, sacrifice, resourcefulness, a mothers love for her daughter, hard work, and a spirit of thankfulness for the contribution that each person made in making the coat. It is filled with truth, goodness, and beauty which is why I recommend it!