THE HUNGRY COAT

Demi sprinkles droll humor and liberal doses of common sense throughout a traditional tale of Nasrettin Hoca, Turkey’s most famous folk hero. On his way to a banquet given by a rich friend, Nasrettin stops to catch a goat. Now late for his dinner, he doesn’t have time to change from his dirty, smelly clothes. Ignored by his friends, Nasrettin leaves and then returns after bathing and dressing in his most elegant clothing. Now greeted as a welcomed guest, Nasrettin feeds the finest banquet food to his coat—since it must have been his fine coat that his friends had wanted at the banquet, right? With the lesson learned, his friends cheer and toast his wisdom. The moral? “He who wears heaven in his heart is always well dressed.” Characteristic of Demi’s earlier work, the elegant illustrations are touched with golden accents, surrounded by ornate borders of tiny details, and filled with the rich colors and patterns of traditional Turkish paintings. Exquisite retelling; exquisite illustrations; exquisite choice. (afterword) (Picture book/folktale. 6-10)