Realistic Fiction

 Title: A New Coat for Anna
Author: Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator: Anita Lobel
Age group: 3-7 y/o
Awards: California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Primary (1990)
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary

The book by Harriet Ziefert, is a book that tells the story of a young girl named Anna, who needed a new coat for winter because the one she had was too small and very old. In the aftermath of WWII, there were not many stores open, and also Anna's mother did not have money. What her mother did, was grab some of Anna's grandpa's stuff and tell her that they can use that to get what they need to make Anna a new coat. What they did was trade things in return for wool, turning the wool to yarn, weaving the yarn, and finally getting Anna tailored to get the perfect coat made. In the end they celebrated Christmas with everyone who helped make Anna's new coat. 

Evaluation

I would most definitely use the book in class, because this book shows a girl in poverty and her mother selling the few valuables they have to get Anna a new coat. It is a book that teaches about poverty and not being able to have the things that people would like to have or need. The book can be used to teach students that we should be thankful for what we have. It can also be used to teach that they have the privilege of stores not being closed, and not being in a time of war. The book is really good and the illustrations help showing the students the process of making Anna's new coat. They are very colorful and detailed.