I enjoyed this book for a few reasons. Firstly, I enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book. I like how the illustrations make the reader feel immersed in 19th century Russia. The illustrations also all have an orange tint to them, which really highlights the setting of the story. The illustrations which are paintings have an old feel to them because of the tint and the way it was designed. Gogol’s Coat is a historical fiction picture book that showcases how harsh life in 19th century Russia can be. The main character, Gogol, a child in the story, is actually a Russian writer from the middle 1800s who wrote the story “The Overcoat”. Both “The Overcoat” and Gogol’s Coat tell the tale of a man or a boy who saves money to buy a new coat in the harsh winter of Russia, but the coat is soon stolen. It encapsulates life in Russia, as well as teaching children valuable lessons.
Secondly, I enjoyed this book because of the real connection behind the story. I enjoy the fact that this children’s book is based upon Nikolai Gogol’s short story, as it is a vital piece of Russian literature. My favorite genre has always been historical fiction, and I find Europe in the 1800s the most interesting. I enjoy how the author vividly describes the hardships many people of Russia faced during this time, especially during the winter. For example, “The chill that Gogol felt during the day would not disappear at night, and he shivered miserably in bed”, gives the reader a taste of how difficult life must have been during that time period. It also allows the reader to sympathize with Gogol. Gogol’s Coat gives a new insight into Russian life in the 1800s that I have never experienced before. The author cleverly presented Russian life as well as depicting “The Overcoat” in a new light.
The lesson of the story is to never lie or steal, as there will always be consequences. When Gogol uses his life savings to buy a brand-new coat to shield him from the chilling wind, he is mugged and is left without a coat in the cold. He sees the man (Ravinsky) wearing the coat the next day and Gogol exposes him to everyone. Ravinsky is then shunned and forced out of the workplace for his shameful actions. ( )