Coyote: North America's Dog (Hardcover)

by Stephen R. Swinburne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Grade 5-7-As a naturalist and former national park ranger, Swinburne has been able to observe coyotes in a number of environments. In a balanced, readable text, he describes the lifestyle of this supremely adaptable canine, its place in Native American folklore, the conflict between ranchers/farmers and this elusive predator, and the problems the animal faces as it struggles to thrive in pristine wilderness areas and in congested suburbs. Many fine color photos, some large and dramatic, keep proper pace with the text. Informative sidebars are liberally sprinkled throughout. A range map and index complete the attractive whole. Make a place in your collection for this handsome volume even if you already own Cherie Winner's more detailed and less personal Coyotes (Carolrhoda, 1995). Team the pair with a variety of Native American coyote tales and you will give youngsters a long-range view of North America's dog and its relationship with its habitat and with humans.
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Swinburne describes his observations of the coyote, an animal that seems equally at home in locations throughout the US: on a Vermont farm, in the wilds of Yellowstone National Park, and in urban areas, e.g., near a swimming pool in Hollywood, California. He enthusiastically describes this small cousin of the wolf; it eats almost everything, adapts to many habitats, and is greatly extending its range in North America. Some farmers and ranchers have made efforts to eradicate the predator with hunting, traps, and poison, while Native American tales celebrate the coyote as a trickster. The author's admiration for the coyote is evident throughout; this is an intriguing look at a creature that is making a comeback in an increasingly urban world. Children needing more specific information on the life cycle of the coyote can turn to Cherie Winter's Coyotes. (index) (Picture book. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563977656
• ISBN-13: 978-1563977657
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,615,059 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and excellently written, August 1, 2000

By A Customer

My children (8 and 11) loved the way the author combined his own adventures with so much information about coyotes in this fine, energetic book. The author's lively prose also helps to make this a wonderful example of the new journalism as it can be applied to children's literature. We need more books like this, and I hope the author can move on from coyote to other cats, like bobcat and tiger, etc. Yesterday, we bought his wolf book, "Once a Wolf," which my son and daughter say is equally fantastic. I'm going to recommend that "Coyote" and "Once a Wolf" be used in our school's curriculum, which at times might be a little heavily weighted toward math and pure science. Glad "Coyote" is in paperback! If the author should read his own reviews at this site, my children want him to know he should keep up the good work.