Perfect in a deeper sense
Review of "Nila's Perfect Coat" by Norene Paulson.
Nila’s Perfect Coat
By Norene Paulson
Illustrated by Maria Mola
Beaming Books, 2024
Young Nila loves to visit thrift stores with her mother to search for treasures. When Nila finds a puffy winter coat with an easy-glide zipper, she’s convinced it’s perfect and she needs it even though her old winter coat still fits her. She tries to persuade Momma to allow her to buy it with birthday money she received from her dad. Momma says Nila will have to make that decision with her dad.
The following morning, Nila goes to school without her old winter coat. She notices that another student named Lily is also not wearing a coat. Lily keeps to herself and seems sad.
The next Saturday when Nila’s dad picks her up, she begs him to go to the thrift store so she can buy the coat. Nila is thrilled when he agrees to allow her to purchase it. But on the drive home, Nila notices a For Sale sign by Lily’s house, and Dad explains that Lily’s family is going through a difficult time. Though Nila doesn’t understand what Dad means, she does remember that Lily didn’t have a coat and seemed sad. Now, Nila is unhappy, too, and “by the time she got home, her new coat didn’t shine quite so brightly.” Nila makes a decision, and in a lovely turn of events her perfect coat becomes perfect in a deeper sense when she gives it to Lily.
In the author’s notes, Norene Paulson encourages kids to help other kids by hosting a coat drive. Paulson’s resources are geared to a U.S. audience (One Warm Coat: www.onewarmcoat.org), but Canadian children can organize their own coat drives and donate them to community organizations that assist children in need.
