Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia. 2011. THE CHRISTMAS COAT: MEMORIES OF MY SIOUX CHILDHOOD. Ill. Ellen Beier. Hagerstown, MD. Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-2134-3

 BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia. 2011. THE CHRISTMAS COAT: MEMORIES OF MY SIOUX CHILDHOOD. Ill. Ellen Beier. Hagerstown, MD. Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-2134-3  

PLOT SUMMARY 

Virginia shares her childhood memories of life on the reservation. The seasonal clothes sent to them were up for grabs on a first come first serve basis and Virginia and her family were last to choose as they believed other people would benefit more than they would. Virginia is not able to select the coat she had her eyes on, but to her surprise an unexpected gift box especially for her family, has the gift she wanted the most. A new coat for her and boots for her brother.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (WITH CULTURAL MARKERS) 

The characters are described to live on the reservation, and we see their clothing as too big or too small with the clothes they select from “Theast boxes” which are boxes of used clothing from the east sent from other congregations. Throughout the story the characters are represented authentically and not stereotyped. Their experiences of walking in freezing temperatures without appropriate warm clothing show the way of life on the reservation. The characters have dark hair, dress modestly and enjoy their Christmas events as a congregation. In the nativity pageant we see the Native American headdresses which also mentions, “Only the wise leaders and elders of the tribe could wear.” The setting is consistent with the time of the story we see children in a schoolhouse writing with feathers and ink, furnaces heating up the homes, lanterns for lights. The illustrations are very detailed and expressive.  

We can see the facial expressions of the children braving the elements on their walks to school, Virginia’s face of worry as the coat she is longing for is slowly being taken and typical children’s reactions to Santa’s arrival. The nativity pageant which includes all the children shows us cultural details as some children are dressed in Native American headdresses and we learn only the elders are allowed to wear this. This lower elementary realistic fiction book has an appealing format with illustrations that accurately portray the Sioux Native American culture.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS/AWARDS 

American Indian Youth Literature Award, 2012 

Horn Book Magazine, 11/01/11 

Horn Book Magazine, 04/01/12 

Kirkus Reviews starred, 09/01/11 

Publishers Weekly, 09/26/11 

School Library Journal, 10/01/11 

Wilson’s Children, 10/01/12 

Horn Book Magazine, (November/December, 2011): "With its authentic portrait of Sioux childhood and Christmas tradiitions (captured in watercolor and gouche illustrations and its eventual happy ending (a final box arrives containing the beautiful red coat Virginia had dreamed of, a reward for her unselfishness). 

Kirkus Reviews starred (September 1, 2011): “ Virginia’s personality shines through in this poignant story that entertains and informs without recourse of stereotypes.  

School Library Journal (November 1, 2013): “ Sneve offers a look into how her childhood was infused with traditional Lakota ways, but enriched too, by the Episcopal church on her reservation.  

CONNECTIONS 

Brett, Jan. THE WILD CHRISTMAS REINDEER. ISBN 978-0-525-51579-1 

Ziefert, Harriet. A NEW COAT FOR ANNA. ISBN 978-0-7587-3252-1 

Tavares, Matt. DASHER. ISBN 978-1-53620-137-6 

Engaging students in a drawing activity where they draw their favorite piece of clothing or share a similar experience with a long-awaited article of clothes would help readers relate to Virginia’s Christmas Coat experience.  

Reading this story during the Holidays would be a great idea and displaying other books about the holidays would give the readers the opportunity to have a variety of books to read.  

Having students do research into the Sioux tribe to learn more about their customs and traditions would be a great extension activity to this book on Virginia’s Driving Hawk Sneve’s childhood experience.