The sweetest story about a younger sister waiting eagerly to be passed down her sister’s red coat once she outgrows it.

The illustrations are sweet and there are multiple good lessons tucked in.

Perfect for a Thanksgiving time storytime, winter, or units on gratefulness and giving. Would suite well from preschool through primary school.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for the copy.

Elise is a regular young child who has been dreaming of the day that she will be the owner of her older sister’s perfect red coat. Filled with pockets, this coat can hold all of Elise’s feathery treasures as well as make her feel older and taller. While wearing it out for the first time on her way to school, Elise encounters a moving scene that transforms the way she feels about her special coat. The next day she acts in an unexpected way, sending a strong message about the power to make a difference. The playful, touching and vivid illustrations are colorful and full of life. This easy and inspirational read will enrich any lesson centering around the impact small acts have on others, as well as bring attention to the hard topic of homelessness. Appropriately approached and originally published in French as Le manteau, this simple story with a profound message is recommended for ages 3-7.

My son's review:
It's awesome! The girl gave the unhoused girl a coat. I liked that. That's super good. It's good, good good! Doing good is good.

My review:
Apparently, my son thought it was super good. Lol, I also loved the message behind the story. I know how excited she was excited to get her sister's coat, but the fact she cared when others looked away was so important. I'm glad she had thought character values, and I think all kids should read this to understand the importance of small acts of kindness.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Flyaway Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

this story reminded me of my childhood so much, coveting after something and putting it in such high regard.
I enjoyed the book, but I think it went over my kids head, they might be too young for it.
Loved the art style!

The Coat
Severine Vidal
Louis Thomas, Illustrator
Elise impatiently waited for her sister to outgrow the red coat. The coat was cozy, pretty and red. She waited and waited. One day her mother and sister handed her a gift-wrapped package, inside was the red coat. The coat was perfect. The fact that it was a hand-me-down was unimportant to her; she wore it with great pride. She is very careful with the coat; she wanted to keep it clean and safe. Along her path to school Elise sees a home and her child. They were homeless and the little girl looked so cold. All day she thought of the little girl and how cold she must be. When she saw the little girl again, she did a kind, selfless act.
Elise is an excellent role model to children. She is a kind child that placed the need of another before herself. The author had the opportunity to demonstrate additional life lessons but did not choose to do so. This would have been an excellent opportunity for Elise to hold a discussion with her mother and sister. I applaud Elise for donating her coat to the little girl but if she had discussed it with her mother there may have been a better solution. This type of donation should be handled by an adult not a child. While the child can suggest such a donation it is not up to the child to make the final decision.
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

The Coat is a wonderful story about coveting after and having great desire to have something but then also learning to be grateful and appreciative for what you already have and the power and pleasure of doing good for others. It is a simple story kids can relate to and is beautifully illustrated.

A tender and poignant, beautifully illustrated and told story from a child’s POV.
The snowy, wintery setting is amazing.
The story itself is both heartbreaking and hearwarming, and very realistic.
From one perspective, the story goes to an unexpected dark place, but it is highly true to reality. The change is a little abrupt.
From another perspective, which my child and I share, this is a much-needed conversation and the theme that the very small acts of kindness matter is highly valuable.
Fun? The first part of the book is fun.

"The Coat" by Séverine Vidal, illustrated by Louis Thomas, is a heartwarming children's book that beautifully captures the emotional journey of a young girl named Elise. The story begins with Elise admiring a red coat that once belonged to her older sister, Mia. Elise has long dreamed of wearing the coat, which symbolizes her growing up. Her anticipation turns to joy when Mia and their mom surprise her with the coat one evening. Elise's happiness is vividly portrayed as she runs down the hall, singing and thanking her sister.
Elise cherishes the coat and dreams of wearing it everywhere. The next day, despite her initial hesitation to wear it outside for fear of damaging it, she proudly steps out, reassured by her sister. As she walks, her joy and pride are evident, but her mood changes dramatically when she encounters a thin woman and a child sitting on the cold ground, poorly dressed for the weather. This sight deeply affects Elise, and she finds it difficult to sleep that night.
The following day, despite feeling cold in her warm coat, Elise tries to mimic the indifferent behavior of others. However, she cannot ignore the girl she saw the day before. Elise decides to offer a small act of kindness by sharing a candy she had saved, which brings a smile to the girl's face and warmth to Elise's heart. The story concludes with Elise missing the school bell but feeling warmed by her kind act, highlighting the power of empathy and compassion.
An important moment in the story is depicted in an image where Elise is absent, and only the homeless girl (wearing Elise’s red coat) and her mother are shown. This absence of Elise suggests a subtle message about the nature of kindness and altruism. By not featuring the protagonist directly in this moment, the focus shifts from individual recognition to the inherent value of assisting people in the community. The absence of Elise in the illustration emphasizes that true kindness does not seek acknowledgment but rather is about the act of helping others.
Louis Thomas's illustrations are rich and expressive, capturing Elise's emotions and the story's settings beautifully. The use of color, particularly the bright red coat against the cold, snowy backgrounds, emphasizes the warmth of Elise's heart. The detailed illustrations add depth to the narrative, making them an integral part of the storytelling.
"The Coat" teaches valuable lessons about kindness, empathy, and the joy of giving. It is a touching and beautifully illustrated book that resonates with both children and adults, making it a must-read for young readers.

The Coat Is the perfect book for teaching empathy and kindness. At my school, they have kindness chains on all the walls. This little gift of a book should be included on many of the kindness chains.
I admit, while reading this little gem, I was a bit disappointed. When I got to the next to the last page I felt a bit disappointed thinking “ok, she gave the little homeless girl candy”. Then I turned the page that had no words on it and the picture was magic. Yes it does bring tears to your eyes.
The artwork was beautiful and the writing, yet simple, was just enough for great classroom discussions. Being a speech pathologist I look for books that have vocabulary we can discuss and making inferences about what might happen next
The story: Elise is a little girl who has waited and waited for the day her sister outgrows a beautiful red coat with wide lapels and lots of pockets. She is not patient and asks frequently when she will get the coat. One day her mom and sister give her a beautifully wrapped box and she knows she has finally gotten “HER” red coat. The next day she wears it proudly and warmly. While walking to school she sees a homeless mom with her daughter, the same age as Elise, sitting out in the cold with nothing but summer clothes. The weather, as Elise likes to call it, is “penguin cold”. We can only surmise what the ending could be, but the ending is well worth it.
I can’t wait to read this with some of my kids at school. I know they will love it as much as I did.

This is such a sweet, beautiful book. Elise is part of a caring family and she is so excited to be getting big enough to wear her older sister's gorgeous red coat. Sadly, she keeps passing by a less fortunate family on her way to school, and she sees that others are ignoring them. The ending is expected but I still got a tear in my eye at this young child's caring and generosity. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

I would certainly utilize this picture book as a mentor text in my classroom. It is really cute, and it has a great meaning that comes through at the end of the story.

The Coat is a sweet story that shows a little girl's process and acts of kindness. This is a great story to read to students to discuss kindness and how they can demonstrate kindness to others. Another great theme is respect, thoughtfulness, and philanthropy. This would be a great addition to any teacher's classroom.

Cutest little story with great meaning. The ending warmed my heart. Highly recommended for all ages.

'The Coat' by Séverine Vidal is one of those books that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. "When it's bitterly cold (penguin cold!), is there anything better than having the perfect coat?" Elise has been patiently waiting for her sister Mia to outgrow her beloved poppy red winter coat. The wait is finally over. When it finally becomes hers, she is overjoyed! She is so excited about going to school in her new coat. Her view of the world changes when she sees a homeless mother and daughter out in the freezing winter weather, without anything to keep them warm. Despite everyone's excitement for Elise's new coat, she was sad and it hurt. That night, she couldn't sleep. Do you know what Elise did the next day when she saw the girl and her mother? You will have to read the book to find out.

The book was wonderfully heartfelt, and I would highly recommend it for the classroom as well as for the home. There are several great lessons in this book, including patience, gratitude, thoughtfulness, and giving.

Thank you NetGalley, Flyaway Books, and Séverine Vidal for the copy of The Coat.

The Coat is an endearing story about a girl named Elise who is extraordinarily excited to get to wear her sister’s hand-me-down coat. The story emphasizes her excitement when she is able to start wearing it. Elise is then faced with a situation that shows Elise’s kindness.

With beautiful illustrations and a well-written story, this is a great book to demonstrate kindness, empathy, and thoughtfulness,

This is a heartwarming story of a young girl's experience of empathy and giving. Many children will identify with wearing a coat that an older sibling or friend has passed down. Even before the ending climax, I enjoyed this story because of its positive depiction of sharing and re-wearing clothes -- not asking for something new. The little girl's selfless gift to a girl who needs it more than she does is a lovely example for young readers.
This book will make a good read-aloud in school or at home.

Such a sweet book about a red coat! I love the message this book gives about thinking of others and sharing with them.

The Coat is a wonderful children's book about a girl who is looking forward to wearing her older sister's coat when she outgrows it. She's been admiring this coat for years and been looking forward to the day it's hers. However, on her way to school she sees a family who have no coats and are homeless. By the end of the book she gives her coat to this family and their little girl, realizing that she doesn't need it as much as they do. I loved the message and how it is an accessible introduction to the really challenging idea of homelessness and how we can help others. This would be a great holiday book or addition to any classroom or any library.

With the same beautiful empathy as “Those Shoes”, “The Can Man”, and “Lily and the Paper Man”, Séverine Vidal has crafted a simple, yet stunning book with which which readers will instantly connect. All of us can remember a piece of clothing that we - at one time or another - coveted for what surely seemed like forever. And with “The Coat” Vidal makes all of us desperately want that little red coat.

The opportunities for rich discussion as a classroom read aloud abound as the story unfolds. Why do you you think that Elise wants the coat so badly? Have you ever wanted something like this? Did you have to wait for it? What did that feel like? How do you think Elise feels?

By the time Elise goes to school and sees the family, the chance to engage readers in deep, higher-order thinking abounds. What can you infer from the illustrations? What might the author be telling us about about where Elise lives? How do you know?

I love this book for many reasons. The kindness it shows, the empathy’, the vast range of emotions it draws out from this little girl wrestling with big questions, and above all, the deeply embedded humanity it reveals.

+I received a free advance copy review and I am reviewing it voluntarily.+

This is such a beautiful and heartwarming story. The capacity that children have to care for others and notice things that others don't or even wish to ignore, is one of my favorite parts of life. I hope people read this to their children and nurture their compassion and kindness while they're still young.