Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest [Paperback]

Gerald McDermott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 1999 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Wherever Coyote goes you can be sure he’ll find trouble. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows agree but soon tire of Coyote’s bragging and boasting. They decide to teach the great trickster a lesson. This time, Coyote has found real trouble!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This "splendid" adaptation of a Zuni folktale, PW said, is "perfectly paced for an amusing read-aloud, with illustrations that are equally accomplished." Ages 4-8. (May)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A short, uncomplicated story in which Coyote decides he wants to fly with the crows. They humor him, give him feathers, and tolerate his offkey singing and out-of-step dancing, until he begins to boast and order them about. Then, as Coyote struggles in midair, they take back their feathers one by one and he plummets to earth. His tail catches fire, and he tumbles into the dirt. To this day he is the color of dust and his tail has a burnt, black tip. The full-page illustrations, executed in gouache, colored pencil, and pastels, are brilliantly colored, with bold patterns, angular forms, and orange backgrounds. Children will enjoy the visual portrayal of Coyote, who is blue, vain, eager, and heedless of consequences, and they will laugh at the pictures of the various troubles he gets himself into at the start of the book. Although the art communicates Coyote's vivid personality, the story is not as charming as some of McDermott's other trickster tales. There is less cleverness, humor, and buoyancy, and more antagonism, in this story. Coyote is a troublemaker, of course, but his antics often make readers laugh. Also, he seems less fully realized than some of the author's previous characters. Still, the book provides an introduction to an important folklore character and is strikingly illustrated. There are no notes on the story's source, but McDermott does provide a note on Coyote and refers to the people of the Pueblo of Zuni as excelling in telling Coyote tales.
Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; First Edition edition (April 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152019588
• ISBN-13: 978-0152019587
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 11 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about a funny coyote!, March 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest (Paperback)

I like it because when the Coyote meets some birds he wants to fly with, all the birds give him one of their right feathers, but he didn't balance. So they each gave him left feathers, but he still didn't balance. And the reason he didn't balance was because he needed one left feather and one right feather. - AMD, Age 7.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coyote is like me!, December 25, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest (Paperback)

Review by 7 year old niece (posted as written):

Coyote gotted into lots of mischif just like me. He was blue like my ears. He liked how the crows chanted and danced and flew. He wanted to do this to. I would also. It looks like fun.

They were mean and teased him by making him think he could fly iffn they stucked feathers in him. He fell. He got covered in dust and was never blue again! Poor Coyote. His tale tip got burned so it is still black too!

3.0 out of 5 stars good for young children, June 7, 2010

By 

marg-a-rita (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest (Hardcover)

I purchased a number of books related to Navajo culture for my step-daughter. She just turned 11; this book was cute, but VERY short and aimed more at a second grade level instead of 5/6 grade level.