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

by Gerald McDermott (Author) "Coyote went looking for Snake but only found trouble..." (more)
Key Phrases: Old Man Crow

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.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (September 14, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015200811X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152207243
• ASIN: 0152207244
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #901,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 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.

5.0 out of 5 stars great trickster tale from American West, September 28, 2008

By	Julia B. Smith (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

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

4.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures and story, September 24, 2008

By	Emily Taylor "1st Grade Teacher/Scouter Gal" (Northern Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

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.