Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies - Softcover

Hb

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0153143436 ISBN 13: 9780153143434

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin School, 1999

Synopsis

In a whimsical retelling of a Native American folktale from the Southwest, Coyote the trickster has the tables turned on him when he is bamboozled by a swarm of mischievous butterflies. Jr Lib Guild.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?A delightful retelling of a Tewa legend. Lovable, lazy coyote is sent by his wife to the big salty lake to bring back salt for cooking. When he is caught napping on the shore by butterflies, they decide to fool him and carry him home without the salt. This trick is thrice repeated until at last coyote awakes at home with the bag of salt beside him. This so pleases his wife that she cooks a feast for all of their friends, including the laughing butterflies who to this day cannot fly in a straight line but flutter to and fro chortling over their successful joke. The book concludes with a helpful author's note on the character of coyote himself and the origin of the tale. The softly textured batik illustrations add feeling and depth to this simple legend. Dusty oranges, blues, tans, and greens capture the New Mexican landscape and bring to life the vibrant scenes of the mesa and the animals' expressions and antics. A satisfying selection, creatively designed, with beautiful pictures and striking imagery.?Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6^-8. Arriving at the great salty lake to fetch salt for his wife, Coyote rewards himself with a nap. While sleeping, he is carried through the air by mischievous butterflies, who take him back home--without the salt. After the confused Coyote tries several times to complete his errand, the butterflies take pity on him and return him to his home with a bag full of salt. This gently humorous tale ends with a great feast attended by all Coyote's animal friends, including the butterflies. To this day, the butterflies remember the trick they played on Coyote and "flutter high and low, to and fro, laughing too hard to fly straight." Cactus sitting in a verdant meadow may give some readers pause, but the large pictures, in bright, appealing colors, make the book suitable for reading aloud to groups and for storytelling. An author's note gives the source for the tale, which is based on a Tewa legend, as well as references to other versions. Janice Del Negro

Edition details

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin School
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0153143436
• ISBN 13: 9780153143434
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 28