After receiving the wrong feathers on the wrong legs, he ends up falling in water and rolling through the dust, giving him a dusty brown coat of fur. He encounters several crows who decide to help him by giving him some of their feathers, but after he gets too vain and pompous about his new ability, they decide to trick him. A good easy children's book to readĬoyote is a humorous tale, involving a blue coyote who wanted to fly. Wiley always managed to get into trouble as he was always looking for it. This book reminded me of the roadrunner and Wiley. Unfortunately for the coyote he fell down back to land. The crows didn't appreciate the coyotes comment and took their feathers back.while the coyote was in the air. Now the coyote could fly, but then asked the crows to carry him.

Sine he fell because he wad unbalanced the crows plucked a right feather and pinned it on him. however, after the dance the coyote was unbalanced and only fell to the ground. The crows each pluck a left feather and pin it on him. One day he asked the crows to let him fly. it seems he is always getting in trouble. The story is a about a Coyote who has a nose for trouble. The colors were appropriate for the age group 6-9. appearance wise the book had great illustrations. Coyote: A trickster tale from the American Southwest, by Gerald Mcdermott had many things to admire. I gave the book 5 stars for many reasons. McDermott's other trickster tales include: Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa, Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon, Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti, and Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i. I also thoroughly enjoyed the flat, geometric illustrations and the contrast of Coyote's brilliant blue against the sandy, red-brown of the Southwest. From the start, you know the Coyote will never be able to accomplish his goal, but you read anyway because you want to experience his comical calamity.

I think I enjoyed this tale because it reminded me of Wile E. And to this day, coyotes are a dusty gray color. He lands in a pool of water on a mesa, chases after the crows who laugh at his misfortune and tumbles in the dirt. But he predictably falls to the ground when the crows decide he is undeserving of their talent.

In this tale, he wants to fly like the crows, and in the beginning they want to help him. He is always getting in trouble, usually because he is rude, boastful and proud. Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest is appropriate for children in kindergarten through second grade.Ĭoyote, the trickster-fool, is common in Native American folklore.

Coyote by Gerald McDermott