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

Gerald McDermott (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Coyote finds trouble wherever he goes. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows, however, decide to teach Coyote a lesson instead. This is the third volume in Gerald McDermott’s series of Trickster Tales. “Bold shapes and expansive double spreads (as well as an economically pared text) recommend the book for story hours large or small; pair it with McDermott’s more mystical Raven for some vibrant cross-cultural contrast.”--The Bulletin

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McDermott (Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest) continues to mine the rich vein of Native American folklore, here unearthing a lively Zuni tale. The fiery colors of the Southwest's rain-parched landscape serve as backdrop for the antics of Coyote, whose vainglorious wish to fly like the crows and be "the greatest coyote in all the world" sets him up for a mighty fall from grace. Coyote's "nose for trouble" leads him to a playful flock of crows, who indulge his wish to fly by lending him their feathers. They soon tire of his rude, boastful ways, however, and cash in on the loan mid-flight. The feckless Coyote's subsequent spectacular tumble from the sky burns his tail and lands him first in a puddle, then in the dust. As always, McDermott offers up a splendid tale, perfectly paced for an amusing read-aloud. His illustrations are equally accomplished, ablaze with color and abounding with the angular symbols and forms of the Pueblo people's pottery and textile designs. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (September 14, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152207244
• ISBN-13: 978-0152008116
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,231,531 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.