The Hungry Coat by Demi (2004)

This Tale from Turkey is the next Demi book I read. She was visiting her son in Istanbul and was inspired to write and illustrate this tale about an actual historical figure - Nasrettin Hoca, who lived in the 13th century and is described in the afterword as a folk philosopher and humorist. Stories about his adventures have become true folktales and part of the folk wisdom. A festival is held in his name every year in July. Again, beautifully illustrated.

The funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca wears a huge white turban and a worn-out coat and helps people. One day he helps catch a goat, which makes him late for a banquet, so he doesn't go home to change. No one will talk to him, so he goes home, washes up and puts on a fine new coat. He goes back to the banquet and now he is popular. So he starts feeding his coat. It must have been the coat that was invited to the banquet, not him.