The Tiny Woman's Coat

The tiny woman makes a coat of leaves with the help of friends in this vibrant, rhyming tale. The trees, geese, porcupine, horse, and plants all share something so the tiny woman can snip, snip, snip and stitch, stitch, stitch a coat to keep herself warm. Resourcefulness and friendship are at the heart of this simple, rhythmic poem by one of the world's best children's writers. Buoyant and satisfying to read aloud, this small book will leave the reader snug as a bug.

“"I'm a sucker for dark children's books that curdle the blood and chill the marrow bone. Not for me dustjackets iced in pink where the greatest jeopardy is a squashed cake or a stained frock. Yet, quite often, when reading to smallies, especially when the nights are drawing in and the leaves are tumbling down, you want something uncomplicated, something that's just . . . cosy. A House in the Woods by Inga Moore, set in autumn, is my go-to for back-to-school comfort reading. The little pigs must find a way to build a house to fit their friends, bear and moose, as well as themselves. As with all the best projects it ends with an uncomplicated supper, a roaring fire and a bed with an attractive eiderdown. Now I have a new favourite cosy read to add to my collection. Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand's best-loved writers, and with the help of Giselle Clarkson's evocative illustrations she tells another story of the powers of collectivism as a tiny woman, chilly in the autumn wind, tries to make herself a coat. When she puts out a call for cloth, she gets an immediate response. '"You can have our leaves,"' said the autumn trees. Rustle, rustle, rustle.' A grey goose answers her call for scissors (a beak), a porcupine for a needle (a spike), a horse for a thread (a hair from his mane), all told with reassuring repetition and rhythm. Finally, the weeny lady goes out in the heavy rain wearing her golden gabardine: 'She stayed snug as a bug in a rug, with her coat to keep her warm.' We see her smiling contentedly while sharing her blackberries with a snail pal. No hacking autumn cough, no endless Covid tests--just warmth, fruit and friends. Well, we have to have something to aspire to . . ."--The Sunday Times”

"An inventive and delightful tale that evokes Thumbelina, The Borrowers, and other beloved wee characters." 

The Times Children's Book of the Week
"A new favourite cosy read to add to my collection ... Giselle Clarkson’s evocative illustrations tell another story of the powers of collectivism."

"This beautiful book is comfort at its very best."

Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand's best-loved writers for children and adults, with an international reputation. She has won a multitude of awards and honours for her bestselling books, including the Prime Ministers Award for contribution to literature. She was shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018 and received an New Zealand Arts Foundation Icon award in 2020.

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