The Christmas Coat

The Christmas Coat: Memories of my Sioux Childhood

Bibliography

Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia. 2011. THE CHRISTMAS COAT: MEMORIES OF MY SIOUX CHILDHOOD. Ill. by Ellen Beier. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421343

Plot Summary

Based on an experience from the author's childhood, The Christmas Coat is about young Virginia who needs to new coat because hers is too small. Her family has always taught that others are more in need than Virginia's family, so Virginia must watch as coats go to other children. She then receives a huge surprise at the end of the book.

Critical Analysis

It is always inspiring to read books based on the author's own experiences. This book by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve is based on a memory of hers from her childhood. The author keeps the story and language simple for kids to read and enjoy and also to learn from. The idea of putting others before ourselves and looking out for those in our community is a message that should resonate with all and inspire those to help others. We see how young Virginia obeys her mother and father in this regard and shows how she is then rewarded for it. This book also can introduce readers to the idea of the theast boxes and what they meant to the Native American communities that got them.

The illustrator of this book, Ellen Beier, uses soft colors to paint the story which works greatly with the wintery setting. She does a great job of catching the emotions of the characters, such as Evelyn's happiness at her new coat and Virginia's jealously we can see on her face as she sits in the background. Virginia's new red coat pops out of the page and helps the reader to realize its importance in the plot and how meaningful it is to Virginia. 

This book is a wonderful story from a Native American author that weaves a story of how we can show compassion towards others and how good deeds are rewarded.

Review Excerpts

Horn Book Guide: "With its authentic portrait of a Sioux childhood and Christmas traditions (captured in watercolor and gouache illustrations) and its eventual happy ending, this is a quiet but affecting picture book."

School Library Journal: "Based on the author's 1940s childhood on a Sioux reservation in South Dakota, this richly descriptive narrative is well matched by detailed and expressive watercolors."

Publishers Weekly: "Beier’s detailed, pastel-dominated watercolor and gouache paintings affectingly convey Virginia’s swirling emotions as she tries to reconcile her longing for the coat, her jealousy of the girl who gets it, and her obedience to her mother, which is eventually rewarded."

Connections

More by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve: The Trickster and the Troll

                                                                 Lana's Lakota Moons

                                                                Dancing Teepees

More Native American Picture Books: Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child, Jonathan Thunder

                                                               Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Cornelius Van Wright

                                                               Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble

                                                               Maillard, Juana Martinez-Neal

Activity: Talk about ways that you can support your community like in the book.