Minna's Patchwork Coat

Minna's Patchwork Coat is a poignant historical novel set in the Appalachian mountains, following young Minna as she navigates profound grief after her coal miner father's death. Unable to afford a winter coat, her community rallies to create a unique patchwork coat from fabric scraps, each piece holding a story. Minna must then find the courage to share these stories with her teasing classmates, transforming what they see as 'rags' into a symbol of love and connection. This expanded chapter book version of 'The Rag Coat' beautifully explores themes of loss, resilience, community support, and finding self-worth amidst hardship, making it ideal for children aged 4-11.

In this charming historical novel, acclaimed artist Lauren A. Mills reimagines her beloved picture book, The Rag Coat, with fifty delicate pencil illustrations and an expanded story about a resilient little girl, her patchwork coat, and how the two bring a community together. Minna and her family don't have much in their small Appalachian cabin, but "people only need people," Papa always reminds her. Unable to afford a winter coat to wear to school, she's forced to use an old feed sack to keep her warm. Then Papa's terrible cough from working in the coal mines takes him away forever, and Minna has a hard time believing that anything will be right again...until her neighbors work tirelessly to create a coat for her out of old fabric scraps. Now Minna must show her teasing classmates that her coat is more than just rags--it's a collection of their own cherished memories, each with a story to share.