The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Demi's latest folktale, The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey, touched with gold foil, celebrates that nation's aesthetic with a story revolving around a wise man, Nasrettin Hoca. On his way to a dinner at the home of a rich friend, Nasrettin stops to help capture a runaway goat and has no time to change before the dinner; there his fellow diners reject him because of his appearance. When he returns dressed finely, they welcome him, and the hero uses the opportunity to teach them a lesson about the source of a man's true character. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Beverley Fahey
Nasrettin Hoca, friend to all, always wore a huge white turban and a coat so worn out even the patches had patches. One day he was invited to a banquet at a rich friend's home. The guests were surprised by such a "shabby, smelly man" and turned their backs and food was served to everyone but him. Quietly Nasrettin slipped out and returned home to bathe and dress in a new turban and "a fine new coat of shiny silk with golden threads." Ushered back into the banquet hall the guests all nodded and welcomed him. They looked on in surprise as Nasrettin picked up all the delicious dishes offered to him and placed them inside his coat. Their surprise turned to embarrassment when Nasrettin explained that he fed his coat because it was obvious to him that "it was the coat not me that you invited to the banquet." The moral of this story is a familiar one, but one that bears repeating and this clever, humorous tale serves as the perfect vehicle for this reminder. Children will be introduced to the wisdom of Turkey's most popular folk hero in a timeless tale seamlessly retold. Demi's signature style jewel-toned illustrations are filled with handsome patterns and decorated with meticulous borders. Her incredible use of white space for effect is most noticeable on the page where Nasrettin sits alone as the guests turn their backs on him. To create the sense of distance and alienation she sits Nasrettin alone on the opposite page, a lone figure in shabby red in the corner of a stark white rectangle. Here is a tale excellent for telling, but is made more perfect by its handsome artwork. 2004, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 10.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-Nasrettin Hoca was a renowned 13th-century Turkish philosopher respected for his wisdom, common sense, and humor, elements that are found in the many folktales about him. This story describes how he stopped to assist in the capture of a wayward goat and soiled his already patched coat in the process. He had no time to change before he headed off to a banquet at a rich friend's house, and everyone there avoided him because he was both shabby and smelly. Nasrettin went home, bathed, and dressed in a splendiferous outfit. He returned to the banquet and was greeted warmly. To everyone's astonishment, he proceeded to stuff food into his coat. When questioned, he replied that it was obvious that it was the coat that had been invited, not him. Demi's retelling of this tale is compelling and includes many details that help bring both time and place into focus. Her paint-and-ink illustrations are resplendent with her trademark gold leaf and intricate borders. However, Nasrettin's allegedly shabby coat is the same jewel-toned red as the finer one he later dons, and as the pictures are so small, it's easy to mistake the patches for daubs of gold. Although this minor problem lessens the effect of his transformation, this is still a well-told, visually enticing tale and a first purchase for most libraries. An informative afterword is included.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Demi sprinkles droll humor and liberal doses of common sense throughout a traditional tale of Nasrettin Hoca, Turkey's most famous folk hero. On his way to a banquet given by a rich friend, Nasrettin stops to catch a goat. Now late for his dinner, he doesn't have time to change from his dirty, smelly clothes. Ignored by his friends, Nasrettin leaves and then returns after bathing and dressing in his most elegant clothing. Now greeted as a welcomed guest, Nasrettin feeds the finest banquet food to his coat-since it must have been his fine coat that his friends had wanted at the banquet, right? With the lesson learned, his friends cheer and toast his wisdom. The moral? "He who wears heaven in his heart is always well dressed." Characteristic of Demi's earlier work, the elegant illustrations are touched with golden accents, surrounded by ornate borders of tiny details, and filled with the rich colors and patterns of traditional Turkish paintings. Exquisite retelling; exquisite illustrations; exquisite choice. (afterword) (Picture book/folktale. 6-10)
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