A Coyote Solstice Tale

October 1, 2009
K-Gr 3-Coyote is expecting Beaver, Bear, Otter, and Moose for a solstice dinner at his small house in the woods but a little girl in a reindeer costume shows up first. When the friends follow her tracks to discover where she came from, they discover a huge and frenzied mall just beyond the woods, where Coyote goes wild shopping until he discovers that he has to pay for the stuff. The humor is dry and affectionate, the rhyming text delights with sly turns of phrase, the watercolor cartoons are whimsical, and the small size of the book (a bit bigger than a DVD case) adds to the charm. This holiday treat will leave readers with no doubt that an evening spent at home with your buds is priceless."Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
First Nations author King (A Coyote Columbus Story) demonstrates his characteristic iconoclastic humor in this anti-consumerism story in rhyme. A little girl drops in on Coyote at Christmastime. Setting out to bring her home, Coyote temporarily falls under the spell of excessive consumption at the mall. Dryly humorous cartoon illustrations in pen-and-ink and watercolor wash put Coyote's emotions on full display.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2009
Oh no -- not another tale of holiday togetherness, in annoying doggerel, no less! Well, it is, and it isn't. First Nations author King (A Coyote Columbus Story) demonstrates his characteristic iconoclastic humor in this anti-consumerism story. A little girl, looking for "friendship and goodwill and peace" in a materialistic world, unexpectedly drops in on Coyote and his friends at Christmastime. Setting out through the woods to bring her home, they find themselves at the mall, where Coyote temporarily falls under the spell of excessive consumption. The rather relentless meter of the verse would seem to deliver the message with a heavy hand -- but King breaks into the sing-song with deadpan commentary ("So this is what humans do, said Coyote") that makes it clear there's much fun being poked here. Dryly humorous cartoon illustrations in pen-and-ink and watercolor wash put Coyote's emotions on full display -- whether a bundle of nerves when first meeting the little girl or blissed out on shopping.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)