Customer Reviews

Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This is one of those books that I like but that my own two children --currently 6 and 8 years of age-- aren't getting into.

Darn-it! I like it. The artwork is bright and quirky and funny, and I really like the tone that the author sets. It sounds like a fable, and unlike some fables and pseudo-fables that I have read, Gerald McDermott has managed to make a story that's interesting and that doesn't talk down to it's audience.

Never-the-less, I have to voice my children's opinions and they weren't enthusiastic. Go figure. Perhaps they'll like it when they are older.

The Accelerated Reading Level is given as 2.6.

The Interest Level is said to be K thru 3rd Grade (although I do wonder if perhaps it might be wrong and the book might interest older children more.)

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-Reviews

Very talented Caldecott winner brings this colorful tale to life with his great stories and well-told narrative.

It's sad. I spent this book feeling rather bad for the poor ickle coyote, and I suppose that the trickster aspect of the story comes from the pesky birds. Still, it's extremely entertaining.

McDemortt's storytelling and rich illustrations bring to life yet another old legend--this time to explain the nature of that old favorite, the coyote. My class loved the pictures and loved hearing of Coyote's escapades (the guy cannot keep out of trouble!)

Plus, the story teaches great lessons about being yourself and minding your own business.

Poor, poor Coyote.

My son ([...] years old) enjoys a lot this funny story about the silliness of the coyote and the tricky birds. We read it often and have a little song for the dancing of the craws.
The design makes it easy for children eyes to understand the story without words.
Another lovely book from Gerald McDermott, but not as good as Zomo The Rabbit or Papagayo. These are really great!!

"Them that takes cakes
Which the Parsee-man bakes
Makes dreadful mistakes."

R. Kipling

As a child I learned many things from Mr Kipling about how to (and not to) behave in this world. I adored those tales and lessons.

A few months ago my son chose Coyote on an outing to the local bookstore. He and I thoroughly enjoyed learning vicariously through Coyote. In fact, Coyote quickly became his most requested book. Last week as we were driving we saw a beautiful coyote dodge across the road. "Doggie!" my son announced proudly. "Coyote!" I corrected. It took a minute to figure out the rest of the resulting monologue but I quickly gathered that my soon was thrilled to see that Coyote's tail was indeed burnt black as pitch from his fall.

Excellent graphics, clever story. 5 stars.

This is one of those books that I like but that my own two children --currently 6 and 8 years of age-- aren't getting into.

Darn-it! I like it. The artwork is bright and quirky and funny, and I really like the tone that the author sets. It sounds like a fable, and unlike some fables and pseudo-fables that I have read, Gerald McDermott has managed to make a story that's interesting and that doesn't talk down to it's audience.

Never-the-less, I have to voice my children's opinions and they weren't enthusiastic. Go figure. Perhaps they'll like it when they are older.

The Accelerated Reading Level is given as 2.6.

The Interest Level is said to be K thru 3rd Grade (although I do wonder if perhaps it might be wrong and the book might interest older children more.)

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-Reviews.com

This was a fair tale children seemed to follow the story better but did not want to hear this book again and again,I was disappointed.