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The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey
Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca. He wore a huge, white turban and a worn-out coat made of patches upon patches. Riding about on his little gray donkey, he liked to help whomever he could.
A friend to all, Nasrettin is a popular figure. But when he is suddenly ignored at a friend's banquet, he realizes it is his patchwork coat that is turning people away from him. He leaves the party and returns later, wearing a brand-new coat. Now Nasrettin is warmly welcomed. But instead of eating the delicious foods placed before him, he feeds them to his coat!
How Nasrettin Hoca teaches his friends a lesson about appearances is the heart of this hilarious and clever story. With good humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere.
A friend to all, Nasrettin is a popular figure. But when he is suddenly ignored at a friend's banquet, he realizes it is his patchwork coat that is turning people away from him. He leaves the party and returns later, wearing a brand-new coat. Now Nasrettin is warmly welcomed. But instead of eating the delicious foods placed before him, he feeds them to his coat!
How Nasrettin Hoca teaches his friends a lesson about appearances is the heart of this hilarious and clever story. With good humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 18, 2004
About the author
Demi
164 books168 followersDemi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 300 titles.
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 21, 2011
This Turkish tale features folk hero Nasrettin Hoca. Demi's illustrations, using borders that resemble turkish rug patterns, bright colors, and other cultural details give a strong sense of time and place. Beginning with the front papers, they also show a fondness for the wise, carefree, and playful hero.
After being excluded from a feast, Nesrettin hatches a plan to teach his friends a lesson. Similar Beauty and the Beast and East of the Sun West one the Moon, The Hungry Coat bears a message of not judging people based on appearance. And in this case, appearance also reflects one's social class. Although the message is fairly didactic the wit and humor make it worthwhile.
This could be used in a study of multicultural folktales.
After being excluded from a feast, Nesrettin hatches a plan to teach his friends a lesson. Similar Beauty and the Beast and East of the Sun West one the Moon, The Hungry Coat bears a message of not judging people based on appearance. And in this case, appearance also reflects one's social class. Although the message is fairly didactic the wit and humor make it worthwhile.
This could be used in a study of multicultural folktales.
November 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and am using it in my multi-cultural education class. I thought the art work was quite relevant for the story line and enhanced the book. The moral of the book is a good one that can be useful to all ages. The words were somewhat advanced for the grade level though. I really liked the fact that the "working class" was accepting of the old man's help and appreciated his efforts without taking into account the condition of his coat. The man's peers are the problem in this story. I thought that how the old man came up with a solution and taught his lesson was interesting. Using his head calmly instead of getting upset or ashamed about the way he was treated. This will definitely be a book in my classroom.
October 19, 2011
A liiiiiiiiittle bit wordy (for my 2.5-y-o), but what I couldn't believe was how she sat through this entire folktale at dinner time, mindlessly eating her food (which was the plan, since she was distracted and fidgety, not eating, before), pretty much spellbound. It helped that the book was set in a kitchen and at a banquet, maybe? It has to go without saying that I once again LOVED (a) the illustrations,(b) the moral of the story, and (c) the fact that this story comes from another culture and country.
November 15, 2017
I love tales of Nasrettin Hoca (I've always seen it spelled Nasruddin Hodja), and I'm sure I've read a version of this one before. Hoca was a real Turkish folk philosopher who lived in the 13th century. His stories always have a moral or lesson at the end. This one is a very clever story that Demi tells and illustrates well. Young readers should enjoy the gentle way that Hoca teaches his friends the true meaning of friendship. I would love to see Demi write and illustrate more of these tales. Her style is well suited to their oriental nature. Highly recommended!
March 19, 2012
This book is a truly amazing book that makes kids and adults laugh while teaching a truly important life lesson. The story notes that “It's not the clothes that make the man but the person inside who counts”, or as Nazrettin Hoca, the main character, states it "he who wears heaven in his heart is always well dressed". I would recommend this book to teachers looking for a well-written book under the genre of traditional literature.
January 10, 2019
Read to a 6 year old and 4 year old. I liked that the story exposes them to the beautiful and very different culture of Turkey. It also taught a great lesson about prejudice. My kids loved it because when the man in the story is telling his coat to "Eat, coat, eat!," they were in stitches! They asked to read it again and again.
February 1, 2022
Wonderful folk tale from a classical figure in Turkey in the 13th century. Story has a good moral.
March 2, 2022
Everything about this book is finesse. Love it
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March 1, 2016Title: The Hungry Coat: A Tale From Turkey
Author: Demi
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s): Self-expression, Inner Strength, Character, Wisdom, Judgment
Opening line/sentence: Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca.
Brief Book Summary: Nasrettin Hoca is a wise man who always cares for people more than himself. One day after helping villagers he wears a coat that is covered in patches and smells of goat to a dinner with a rich friend. At the dinner he is ignored so he goes home to clean off and to put on brand new clothes. He returns to the dinner and this time is served food, but rather than eating the food he feeds the food to the coat because he feels the coat was the one invited to the party not himself.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature)
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.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:Publishers Weekly (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.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews stress the fact of Nasrettin Hoca’s powerful wisdom in which he teaches the fellow diners a lesson they will never forget. This is a funny tale that is appealing to young children because of the coat “eating” the food instead of Nasrettin. This tale revolves around the idea of being true to one’s character, which is an important lesson for anyone to learn.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations of this book include bright colors that really make the images stand out. The pictures are also surrounded by a lot of white space enhancing the vivid scene. The author also makes Nasrettin stand out by surrounding him with open, white space on one page and crowding the other diners on the other paging, signifying him being left out. The text is also off to the sides of the pages and smaller than the images which again makes the images stand out signifying the important role they play in the story.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would use this book to connect to a mini lesson about culture with my students. I would go through the story again after the read-aloud to discuss the way the characters from Turkey dress and how it is different from other people’s way of dressing. I would then have my students draw themselves dressed in something they wear at home or at school. This could then be moved into a writer’s workshop by having my students write an explanation as to why they dress a certain way and how that makes them unique.
Author: Demi
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s): Self-expression, Inner Strength, Character, Wisdom, Judgment
Opening line/sentence: Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca.
Brief Book Summary: Nasrettin Hoca is a wise man who always cares for people more than himself. One day after helping villagers he wears a coat that is covered in patches and smells of goat to a dinner with a rich friend. At the dinner he is ignored so he goes home to clean off and to put on brand new clothes. He returns to the dinner and this time is served food, but rather than eating the food he feeds the food to the coat because he feels the coat was the one invited to the party not himself.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature)
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.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:Publishers Weekly (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.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews stress the fact of Nasrettin Hoca’s powerful wisdom in which he teaches the fellow diners a lesson they will never forget. This is a funny tale that is appealing to young children because of the coat “eating” the food instead of Nasrettin. This tale revolves around the idea of being true to one’s character, which is an important lesson for anyone to learn.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations of this book include bright colors that really make the images stand out. The pictures are also surrounded by a lot of white space enhancing the vivid scene. The author also makes Nasrettin stand out by surrounding him with open, white space on one page and crowding the other diners on the other paging, signifying him being left out. The text is also off to the sides of the pages and smaller than the images which again makes the images stand out signifying the important role they play in the story.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would use this book to connect to a mini lesson about culture with my students. I would go through the story again after the read-aloud to discuss the way the characters from Turkey dress and how it is different from other people’s way of dressing. I would then have my students draw themselves dressed in something they wear at home or at school. This could then be moved into a writer’s workshop by having my students write an explanation as to why they dress a certain way and how that makes them unique.
December 1, 2016
The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey is an Islamic folk tale children’s book written by Demi. The story takes place in Turkey, and tells the story of Nasrettin Hoca. He was a funny little wise man who wore a huge white turban and worn out coat covered in patches. He would ride along through many towns on his little gray donkey and helped to anyone he could. He was a friend to wall and this made him very popular. He's invited to a friends banquet where: everyone is dressed in the most fine coats made of silk with gold and silver thread. But then Nasrettin Hoca arrives and is completely ignored by his friend and everyone else at the banquet because of his old code and the fact that he smells like his donkey after traveling for such a long time. He then has an idea he leaves the party and comes back in a beautiful brand-new coat now he is welcomed warmly by everyone there including the host it is offered one of the best seats at the banquet and is given the most choice of foods but then instead of eating it himself he then feed it to his coat until it is completely stuffed with meats, dried fruits, nuts, cakes, vegetables, pilaf and even wine. He then makes his friends realize that they only respected him when he dressed fancy he was still the same person underneath the coat but they treated him differently because of what he wore. His friends then apologize for treating him this way and respect him for who he is and not for what he wears or what he looks like.
Judgment is a very powerful thing and I definitely think the children need to learn as early as possible that you cannot judge someone based on their physical appearance and that you should judge someone based on their character. A good way to start a discussion about judgment and looking beyond physical appearances is using this book is not only does that but it also has a diversity component as the story takes place in Turkey.
Something that can be done to help students really understand the value of not dating someone for face value but for what their character is having the children write stories of times they may have been judged or they had judged someone else and why it's not good to do that. Traditional literature can easily be written in the format of a reader’s theatre. I can invite students to perform a reader’s theatre. I can also invite them to write a story or an advice column why it is important not to judge others.
Judgment is a very powerful thing and I definitely think the children need to learn as early as possible that you cannot judge someone based on their physical appearance and that you should judge someone based on their character. A good way to start a discussion about judgment and looking beyond physical appearances is using this book is not only does that but it also has a diversity component as the story takes place in Turkey.
Something that can be done to help students really understand the value of not dating someone for face value but for what their character is having the children write stories of times they may have been judged or they had judged someone else and why it's not good to do that. Traditional literature can easily be written in the format of a reader’s theatre. I can invite students to perform a reader’s theatre. I can also invite them to write a story or an advice column why it is important not to judge others.
July 26, 2010
format: picture book
age: grades 1-5
protagonist: Nasrettin Hoca
Nasrettin Hoca was a leading folk philospher and humorist. Stories about his adventures and wisdom became true folktales, and this story is just one of many. Set in a small village in Turkey, Nasrettin is on his way to a fancy banquet at the home of a rich friend when he stops to help catch a goat which has gotten lose and is causing havoc inside a small hostel. Once everything is set back into order, Nasrettin no longer has time to go home and change clothes so he must go to the party smelly and dirty in his old patched up coat. Upon arriving, he is ignored by all because of his appearance. Seeing the response from everyone at the banquet, he quietly leaves to return home to bathe and change clothes before returning to the banquet. Upon his second arrival to the banquet, now clean and in dashing fashion, everyone welcomes him cheeringly and act as if nothing had happened. However, Nasrettin has some wisdom to pass to the guests about appearances (I don't want to spoil it for you). With a sense of humor, Nasrettin provides his wisdom about judging others. This book reminds me a bit of an Aesop fable in which there is some sort of moral lesson at the end. The message at the end is universal and delivered in good humor that kids of all ages will appreciate the way in which he proves his point. While the pictures are a bit on the "long ago and far away" side, it is meant to be a folk tale which allows it to get away with this kind of image. I see this book as being a great book to read to younger kids when teaching them about judging others and taking time to help others even when they don't seem to have the time. A great story regardless of the fact that it's a folk tale.
age: grades 1-5
protagonist: Nasrettin Hoca
Nasrettin Hoca was a leading folk philospher and humorist. Stories about his adventures and wisdom became true folktales, and this story is just one of many. Set in a small village in Turkey, Nasrettin is on his way to a fancy banquet at the home of a rich friend when he stops to help catch a goat which has gotten lose and is causing havoc inside a small hostel. Once everything is set back into order, Nasrettin no longer has time to go home and change clothes so he must go to the party smelly and dirty in his old patched up coat. Upon arriving, he is ignored by all because of his appearance. Seeing the response from everyone at the banquet, he quietly leaves to return home to bathe and change clothes before returning to the banquet. Upon his second arrival to the banquet, now clean and in dashing fashion, everyone welcomes him cheeringly and act as if nothing had happened. However, Nasrettin has some wisdom to pass to the guests about appearances (I don't want to spoil it for you). With a sense of humor, Nasrettin provides his wisdom about judging others. This book reminds me a bit of an Aesop fable in which there is some sort of moral lesson at the end. The message at the end is universal and delivered in good humor that kids of all ages will appreciate the way in which he proves his point. While the pictures are a bit on the "long ago and far away" side, it is meant to be a folk tale which allows it to get away with this kind of image. I see this book as being a great book to read to younger kids when teaching them about judging others and taking time to help others even when they don't seem to have the time. A great story regardless of the fact that it's a folk tale.
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March 1, 2014Demi. The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey. New York, New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2004. Target Audience: Age 5-10. Reading Level: 5.9. Length: 36 pages. Christopher Award. When the wise man Nesrettin Hoca attends a banquet hosted by a friend, he is disappointed to discover that he is ignored because he’s shabbily dressed. He leaves the banquet to go home to change, and when he returns, he is suddenly treated with respect. To point out to his host and the other guests that you shouldn’t judge a person by his clothes, Nesrettin pretends to feed his coat, explaining that, “it was the coat—and not me—that you invited to your banquet.” The text is accompanied by striking illustrations in paint and ink featuring vivid colors, ornamental borders, and Islamic artistic characteristics. I especially liked the two-page spread at the very end. The protagonist is a well-known folk character in Islamic lore. The message is universal, and transcends the culture represented. Sources: the author offers background information on the cultural figure at the center of the story, but provides no specific references to sources. CSULB Class 3 Traditional Literature—Folktale.
April 13, 2015
Personal Reaction: I think this book is a great representation of Turkish culture. The book has really intriguing illustrations and I think that helps to keep readers very engaged. I know that is something that I have found to be particularly helpful while choosing what books would be good for my classroom. Turkish culture is more than likely something that many students will not have been exposed too, so I think in that regard if offers a whole new perspective and area to learn about.
Purpose: I would classify this story as a cultural folktale. This classification was evident to me because the story references a famous Turkish folktale hero. If I were to use this book I would use it as a read aloud book. It is best suited for students in the first or second grade. The vocabulary level and plot of the story would be conducive to their cognitive ability. This story would be great for teaching children about 'plot'. This story has a very easy-to-follow plot line. This simplicity would make it easy for students to identify the progression of the plot based on elements I would teach them about.
Purpose: I would classify this story as a cultural folktale. This classification was evident to me because the story references a famous Turkish folktale hero. If I were to use this book I would use it as a read aloud book. It is best suited for students in the first or second grade. The vocabulary level and plot of the story would be conducive to their cognitive ability. This story would be great for teaching children about 'plot'. This story has a very easy-to-follow plot line. This simplicity would make it easy for students to identify the progression of the plot based on elements I would teach them about.
March 18, 2016
02/10: We love Demi's books.
Inside Cover:
Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca. He wore a huge, white turban and a worn-out coat made of patches upon patches. Riding about on his little gray donkey, he liked to help whomever he could. A friend to all, Nasrettin is a popular figure. But when he is suddenly ignored at a friend's banquet, he realizes it is his patchwork coat that is turning people away from him. He leaves the party and returns later, wearing a brand new coat. Now Nasrettin is warmly welcomed. But instead of eating the delicious foods placed before him, he feeds them to his coat! How Nasrettin Hoca teaches his friends a lesson aout appearances is the heart of this hilarious and clever story. With good humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere.
Inside Cover:
Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca. He wore a huge, white turban and a worn-out coat made of patches upon patches. Riding about on his little gray donkey, he liked to help whomever he could. A friend to all, Nasrettin is a popular figure. But when he is suddenly ignored at a friend's banquet, he realizes it is his patchwork coat that is turning people away from him. He leaves the party and returns later, wearing a brand new coat. Now Nasrettin is warmly welcomed. But instead of eating the delicious foods placed before him, he feeds them to his coat! How Nasrettin Hoca teaches his friends a lesson aout appearances is the heart of this hilarious and clever story. With good humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere.
March 17, 2015
Demi wrote this book about a wise man, Nasrettin. He lived in the land of Turkey and he was nice to all people but then he was rejected at a rich friends banquet. He perceived it was because he was a shabby, smelly man. He went home, bathed, changed his clothes, and went back to the banquet. The reaction of him was different.
I liked this book because Nasrettin was clever and his deeds were out of the ordinary, but they helped people! In the peritext it states, "For all who wear heaven in their hearts". On the back jacket flap Demi says that she was inspired to write this book after visiting her son in Turkey. The illustration medium was rendered in paint and ink as it states on the front matter. The illustrations are very colorful and captivated my eye. This book has a deep meaning about being a good citizen and not judging people by their appearances. Nasrettin only smelled and was dirty because he was helping the hostel owner.
I liked this book because Nasrettin was clever and his deeds were out of the ordinary, but they helped people! In the peritext it states, "For all who wear heaven in their hearts". On the back jacket flap Demi says that she was inspired to write this book after visiting her son in Turkey. The illustration medium was rendered in paint and ink as it states on the front matter. The illustrations are very colorful and captivated my eye. This book has a deep meaning about being a good citizen and not judging people by their appearances. Nasrettin only smelled and was dirty because he was helping the hostel owner.
April 14, 2015
The Hungry Coat is a great story. I have read several books by Demi and I always enjoy them. The illustrations are full of bright colors and the story itself is wonderful and keeps you interested from start to finish.
This story falls under the genre of a cultural folktale. The Hungry Coat introduces you to a famous folktale hero from the Turkish culture. This book would be best read aloud to a class of second graders. I think they would be just the right age to both understand and appreciate the story. It would be a great addition to a unit on culture. The story would also be a great aid in teaching the concept of plot. The plot in this story is easy to follow and understand, which is why it would be a great example for a second grade class trying to understand the concept.
This story falls under the genre of a cultural folktale. The Hungry Coat introduces you to a famous folktale hero from the Turkish culture. This book would be best read aloud to a class of second graders. I think they would be just the right age to both understand and appreciate the story. It would be a great addition to a unit on culture. The story would also be a great aid in teaching the concept of plot. The plot in this story is easy to follow and understand, which is why it would be a great example for a second grade class trying to understand the concept.
August 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this one!
SPOILERS
A traveler attends his rich friend party and is ignored by everyone, including the host because he isn't dressed very nicely.
He isn't even offered any food!
He realizes that his attire is the problem so he goes and takes a shower and puts on an extensive new coat.
When he goes back to the party, everyone is suddenly eager to talk to him and he is invited to eat. But instead of feeding himself he starts feeding his coat.
Everyone stares in amazement as he keeps putting food in his coat and saying, "Eat coat, eat!"
Someone finally soaks up and asks him what he's doing. He explains that before he had been refused food before and now hes being offered food because of his coat, so the food must be for the coat because that's all that is different.
Everyone is embarrassed and they realize their mistake.
An important lesson!
SPOILERS
A traveler attends his rich friend party and is ignored by everyone, including the host because he isn't dressed very nicely.
He isn't even offered any food!
He realizes that his attire is the problem so he goes and takes a shower and puts on an extensive new coat.
When he goes back to the party, everyone is suddenly eager to talk to him and he is invited to eat. But instead of feeding himself he starts feeding his coat.
Everyone stares in amazement as he keeps putting food in his coat and saying, "Eat coat, eat!"
Someone finally soaks up and asks him what he's doing. He explains that before he had been refused food before and now hes being offered food because of his coat, so the food must be for the coat because that's all that is different.
Everyone is embarrassed and they realize their mistake.
An important lesson!
November 30, 2019
The Hungry Coat is a beautifully crafted tale of the Turkish folk hero, Nasrettin (Turkish: Nasreddin) Hoca, a philosopher, imam, Muslim mystic, and humorist who lived from A.D. 1208-1284. In Turkish, the word 'hoca' means, 'teacher'. Stories of Nasrettin hoca's adventures and wisdom were spread and embellished over centuries taking its place among some of the most well-known and beloved Turkish folklore. Tales of Nasrettin Hoca use humor and wit to convey a moral, or alternative way of viewing something, captured by the straightforward wisdom of the 'hoca'. Turks today still draw on his wisdom and wit to drive home a point or teach important life lessons to their children. This fantastic book with its updated illustrations based on traditional Turkish art, make it the perfect book for a new generation of readers!
RECOMMENDED FOR...
Students in 5-6th grade will greatly enjoy reading The Hungry Coat. Younger students will love it too, but some challenging vocabulary make it more suited as a read aloud or guided reading text. Teachers looking for an unexpected folklore text to incorporate into a lesson will enjoy this book as well!
IDEAS & TIPS FOR INSTRUCTION
The universal moral of this story make it a wonderful way to discuss social issues such as equality with your class. How might we subconsciously judge people based on what they wear, how they behave, or where they live? Is discrimination ever a good thing?
Being as the tales of Nasrettin Hoca are less known in the United States, it is a great way to introduce students to a more obscure, but fascinating country and culture. Teachers can have the students research other tales of Nasrettin Hoca (there are many!). Since few are published in print form in English, this is a good opportunity to incorporate the internet and technology. Students can work in small groups to find a story about Nasrettin Hoca they really find interesting (the internet has lots of web-based (non-eBook) tales translated into English).
After they decide on a tale, have students work together in their small groups to create a book complete with illustrations. Students can study traditional Turkish art for inspiration (see if there is a Turkish artist in your area who could come and give the class a presentation on traditional Turkish painting, such as 'ebru', or Turkish shadow puppets, 'karagöz' which have been popular since Ottoman times. If there is no one in your community, plan a virtual field trip with your class instead.
Allow each group to use their imaginations to brainstorm, negotiate, and create a book by hand, or in a digital text format. This activity should be spread out over several days. Once students have completed their books have a publishing day where each group presents their book. Make sure each student has an opportunity to present some component and read aloud. If available, students can project their stories onto a screen.
Throughout the book-making process, confer with your groups and be sure they fully understand the moral or theme of their story. At the publishing event they should be able to discuss it and why it is important and relevant. What social or moral value does it have for them and their peers?
A modification or extension to this project to access even higher-level thinking skills would be to have your students to come up with their own original story about Nasrettin Hoca. What message would they like their readers to learn? What social values are important to them? How might Nasrettin Hoca help them convey their message?
Alternatively, divide the class in two groups (or leave as one depending on the number of students) and let them turn the story into short play complete with props and costumes. Guide students in researching clothing, housing, transportation, and social customs during the time of Nasrettin Hoca. Extend this activity by having them research these same things in Turkey today. Compare and contrast then and now. What is different? What is the same? Are students surprised by their findings? As the teacher, see if there are any international festivals to be held in your area or school during the school year and found out if your students could perform their play at the event. If so, coordinate this lesson accordingly, allowing enough time for preparation.
A third option that is more arts and craft oriented is to have students make their own shadow puppets of Nasrettin Hoca and the other characters from the story and perform a show for another class. In the process of making their shadow puppets, students have an opportunity to build content knowledge about other traditional art forms. This activity is also a great way to encourage students who are shy to perform in front of an audience.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
As someone who grew up with Nasrettin Hoca, I am delighted to recommend his wisdom and humor to readers who have not yet had the pleasure of discovering his tales. This is a WOW book for me because in addition to the cultural allure and unique artwork, the main hallmark that has made Nasrettin Hoca an enduring figure of Turkish folklore is the simple wisdom used to embed universal truths, like, not judging others based on outward appearance (The Hungry Coat), or, those who wish to walk uprightly must be humble (Miracle). An award winning author of numerous books for children, Demi has received high acclaim for her masterful artwork. The Hungry Coat is no exception to her talent when it comes to creating exceptional and culturally diverse children's books that students and adults alike are sure to want to read again and again!
RECOMMENDED FOR...
Students in 5-6th grade will greatly enjoy reading The Hungry Coat. Younger students will love it too, but some challenging vocabulary make it more suited as a read aloud or guided reading text. Teachers looking for an unexpected folklore text to incorporate into a lesson will enjoy this book as well!
IDEAS & TIPS FOR INSTRUCTION
The universal moral of this story make it a wonderful way to discuss social issues such as equality with your class. How might we subconsciously judge people based on what they wear, how they behave, or where they live? Is discrimination ever a good thing?
Being as the tales of Nasrettin Hoca are less known in the United States, it is a great way to introduce students to a more obscure, but fascinating country and culture. Teachers can have the students research other tales of Nasrettin Hoca (there are many!). Since few are published in print form in English, this is a good opportunity to incorporate the internet and technology. Students can work in small groups to find a story about Nasrettin Hoca they really find interesting (the internet has lots of web-based (non-eBook) tales translated into English).
After they decide on a tale, have students work together in their small groups to create a book complete with illustrations. Students can study traditional Turkish art for inspiration (see if there is a Turkish artist in your area who could come and give the class a presentation on traditional Turkish painting, such as 'ebru', or Turkish shadow puppets, 'karagöz' which have been popular since Ottoman times. If there is no one in your community, plan a virtual field trip with your class instead.
Allow each group to use their imaginations to brainstorm, negotiate, and create a book by hand, or in a digital text format. This activity should be spread out over several days. Once students have completed their books have a publishing day where each group presents their book. Make sure each student has an opportunity to present some component and read aloud. If available, students can project their stories onto a screen.
Throughout the book-making process, confer with your groups and be sure they fully understand the moral or theme of their story. At the publishing event they should be able to discuss it and why it is important and relevant. What social or moral value does it have for them and their peers?
A modification or extension to this project to access even higher-level thinking skills would be to have your students to come up with their own original story about Nasrettin Hoca. What message would they like their readers to learn? What social values are important to them? How might Nasrettin Hoca help them convey their message?
Alternatively, divide the class in two groups (or leave as one depending on the number of students) and let them turn the story into short play complete with props and costumes. Guide students in researching clothing, housing, transportation, and social customs during the time of Nasrettin Hoca. Extend this activity by having them research these same things in Turkey today. Compare and contrast then and now. What is different? What is the same? Are students surprised by their findings? As the teacher, see if there are any international festivals to be held in your area or school during the school year and found out if your students could perform their play at the event. If so, coordinate this lesson accordingly, allowing enough time for preparation.
A third option that is more arts and craft oriented is to have students make their own shadow puppets of Nasrettin Hoca and the other characters from the story and perform a show for another class. In the process of making their shadow puppets, students have an opportunity to build content knowledge about other traditional art forms. This activity is also a great way to encourage students who are shy to perform in front of an audience.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
As someone who grew up with Nasrettin Hoca, I am delighted to recommend his wisdom and humor to readers who have not yet had the pleasure of discovering his tales. This is a WOW book for me because in addition to the cultural allure and unique artwork, the main hallmark that has made Nasrettin Hoca an enduring figure of Turkish folklore is the simple wisdom used to embed universal truths, like, not judging others based on outward appearance (The Hungry Coat), or, those who wish to walk uprightly must be humble (Miracle). An award winning author of numerous books for children, Demi has received high acclaim for her masterful artwork. The Hungry Coat is no exception to her talent when it comes to creating exceptional and culturally diverse children's books that students and adults alike are sure to want to read again and again!
August 6, 2015
A wonderful folk tale from Turkey that reminds us that a person should not be judged based on the way they look/dress but on the content of their character. Nasrettin arrives at a banquet looking bedraggled and smelly (because he has stopped to help a number of people). He is mistreated. He returns home, changes and returns to the party in his finest coat...and with a plan to show what really matters.
Could lead to great discussions in a classroom...why it is important at times to dress nicely as well as discussions about wealth/poverty, judging others, etc.
Could lead to great discussions in a classroom...why it is important at times to dress nicely as well as discussions about wealth/poverty, judging others, etc.
May 12, 2014
This wonderful Trukish fairy tale has a lesson Christians and seculars can benefit from: clothes don't change the person. The person does that, if that is his/her wish. A Turkish man wears ratty clothes and joins a party full of judgmental rich people. So he changes robes and snucks food into the robes' folds to prove his point. Demi ahs done a good job of retelling this profound tale for a wider audience I hope will catch on to it.
June 22, 2008
All of Demi's books are absolutely gorgeous. We love to look through them. And the stories are always wonderful too.
This story is funny, but was a little above their heads. They didn't quite 'catch' the humor and meaning of the story. I think I'll try it again when they're a bit older.
Yes, I read picture books to my older kids. They love it.
This story is funny, but was a little above their heads. They didn't quite 'catch' the humor and meaning of the story. I think I'll try it again when they're a bit older.
Yes, I read picture books to my older kids. They love it.
October 18, 2011
Timeless tale of it's what is inside is what matters the most (or, don't judge a book by its cover/a man by his coat). The story is told with humor. Interestingly, Nasrettin Hoca, the protagonist, was a real person living in Turkey in the 13th century, who, as the afterword indicates, is a "symbol of common sense, clear wisdom, and good-natured humor."
October 22, 2014
I first heard a version of this story on a cassette tape of folktales. This story is slightly different than the one I listened to, but it is still as funny, as Nasrettin Hoca has to teach some snobby people what a true friend is. Demi's colorful double-page spreads are encased in decorative frames.
September 18, 2012
The book is about Nasrettin Hoca, who was one of the most famous popular figures in Turkey. In this story, Hoca teaches his friends a lesson about the relationship between physical appearance and respect. Here is a perfect quote from the book Hoca says; “he who wears heaven in his heart is always well dressed".
December 4, 2012
The art work was very tasteful however the book was a little wordy. It would be fine if the audience was older kids, but for the younger kids around seven and eight it is a lot to comprehend all at once. I would not recommend using this in the classroom, however it is an okay book to maybe have on your shelf at home.
July 25, 2017
This (magical realism) picture book was a story about a well known man being invited to a fancy dinner party at his friend's house. When he arrived in a less than perfect coat all of his friends rejected him. The moral of this story is great to reader to younger students because it shares a great life lesson.
September 14, 2017
Accompanied by the, as always, beautiful detailed artwork of Demi, this traditional Turkish tale was a perfect addition to our studies of Turkey. The tale is wonderfully told with a good moral at the end as well as illustrations that are a feast for the eyes. This book made me realize that I need to own more Demi books, and this will be one of them!
May 9, 2009
This is a fantastic folktale with a wise moral, amazing illustrations (typical for Demi's books), and humor too! It is engaging for young children and yet tells about right and wrong without being preachy. We really enjoyed this story.
October 12, 2009
I loved the way this story illustrated that "the coat does not make the man", or, as the book ends, "He who wears heaven in his heart is always well-dressed." I especially liked the juxtaposed patterns in the illustrations.
February 21, 2010
I heard this read in church. I am Unitarian Universalist and I want to tell you to rock! Anyway, this gets a good idea on how people think about you and how if you switch to rags, people won't treat you as special. People will judge your clothes, not your personality.
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