THE PURPLE COAT

by Amy Hest ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1986

Every fall, Gabrielle gets a new navy-blue coat, made for her by Grandpa at his tailor shop. This year, she wants something different--a purple coat. Mama is reluctant, but Grandpa reminds her of the tangerine-colored dress she yearned for when she was a girl, because ""once in a while it's good to try something new."" The solution pleases everyone: a reversible coat, purple on one side, blue on the other. The yearning to break the established routine will strike a pleasant chord of recognition among readers who are discovering the delights of making choices. Hest has created warm and solid characters in Gabby and Grandpa and evokes a very real time (1940's) and place (lower New York), recalling an era when a train ride to the city and the bustle of downtown shoppers was an adventure. The glowing watercolors are reminiscent of Bemelmans. The scraps, bolts of fabric, and other tools of the tailor's trade in Grandpa's shop are a treat to the eye.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Four Winds/Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1986

Categories: CHILDREN'S