Coyote Goes Walking (Sunburst Book) [Paperback]

Tom Pohrt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up | Series: Sunburst Book

A collection of short stories based on folklore surrounding the coyote and other writings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pohrt's (Crow and Weasel) folktale quartet presents Coyote?a figure from Native American oral traditions?in various impersonations. From the less-than-divine creator to the foiled trickster and mischievous bumbler, Coyote, shown here sporting a buffalo-hide cape?gives youngsters plenty to identify with. When curious Coyote gets his head stuck in an elk's skull inhabited by mice, they chew up his hair; he responds by calling the mice "many bad names." When Coyote ambitiously attempts to imitate the woodpecker's method for gathering food?by donning a wooden beak?"he knocked himself out and fell to the ground." Though comprised of the simplest narrative elements, these brief stories serve up fast laughs and fodder for easy reflection. The warm, earth-toned watercolors eschew slapstick in favor of more subtle humor. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?Coyote delightedly creates the world and then is depicted adventuring?or misadventuring?in it in these four brief tales based on stories that appear in A.L. Kroeber's Gros Ventre Myths and Tales (1976; o.p.) and Robert H. Lowie's The Assiniboine (1974, both AMS). In all three of the post-creation stories, Coyote is bested. He gets his head stuck in an elk skull, causing him to blunder painfully into the river. He tries to collect food by Woodpecker's method, but only knocks himself out. When he disrespectfully kicks a buffalo skull, the dead animal returns to life to exact vengeance on his hide. If, as Pohrt's introduction claims, Coyote "...teaches us the importance of listening, paying attention, and respecting all that surrounds us," those lessons are so embedded in the understated narratives as to be all but invisible. What is visible is the artist's mastery of subtle color and line. The animals are drawn in loving, accurate detail, fur or feathers harmonizing with their anthropomorphic actions. The landscape plays a supporting role, contributing bits of detail in rock or tree. Against the gentle earth tones, the woodpecker's brilliant crest, the deep green pine needles, or a lapis evening sky regale the discerning eye. This book is a far cry from Barry Lopez's Crow and Weasel (North Point, 1990), but it has a delicate appeal of its own.?Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sunburst (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374413800
• ISBN-13: 978-0374413804
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,401,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book To Expose to Native American Customs, January 1, 2003

By 

"jknsm" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coyote Goes Walking (Sunburst Book) (Paperback)

This book by far is one of my four year old daughter's favorites. It was wonderful to expose her to concepts about how a new world was created, the sacred pipe, Sun Dances and more. I found it a great introduction to a Native American point of view. This book has four short stories: Coyote Creates A New World, Coyote and Mice, Coyote and Woodpecker, and Coyote and the Buffalo Bull. They are perfect read apart, or cover to cover. The pictures are superb! The intro by the author even explains Coyote's role. I recommend this book for all ages.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great retelling of four coyote stories from Native American Lore, November 8, 2009

By 

Deborah Verlen "Deborah" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coyote Goes Walking (Hardcover)

Used book sales are a great place to discover older gems that are still a wonderful read for children no matter what the year. This 1995 book about Coyote is one of those treasures. If your child likes animals, there are four stories that they will enjoy hearing or reading:

Coyote Creates a New World
Coyote and Mice
Coyote and Woodpecker
Coyote and the Buffalo Bull

If your child has a curiosity for the world, there are plenty of discussion points and places to "educate." For instance the first story starts with Coyote sitting atop a mesa (mom what is a mesa?). He decides to build his own world. He builds a raft of buffalo chips (mom what are buffalo chips?)--which is sure to get either a giggle or an "ewww" when you explain what buffalo chips are.

Each story is structured in such a way that there is a moral to it. It is not preachy, but you can interpret for your child or have your child guess.

The illustrations are beautifully drawn too which is an added bonus to any book!