Log in to track your reading progress.
Overview
Decrepit and hungry, Coyote feels as if he's nothing but an old bag of bones. He wants to be young and strong again. He knows that young Buffalo has special powers, since he provides food, clothing, and shelter for the people. He asks Young Buffalo to change him into a young buffalo bull like himself. Buffalo obliges, but also warns Coyote: 'Remember, even though most of you looks like a young buffalo on the outside, on the inside, you are still a powerless coyote.'Synopsis
Decrepit and hungry, Coyote feels as if he's nothing but an old bag of bones. He wants to be young and strong again. He knows that young Buffalo has special powers, since he provides food, clothing, and shelter for the people. He asks Young Buffalo to change him into a young buffalo bull like himself. Buffalo obliges, but also warns Coyote: 'Remember, even though most of you looks like a young buffalo on the outside, on the inside, you are still a powerless coyote.'
Publishers Weekly
The lessons in this tale of the legendary trickster Coyote are "delivered with droll understatement and wit," said PW. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
The lessons in this tale of the legendary trickster Coyote are "delivered with droll understatement and wit," said PW. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)Children's Literature -
Coyote, the trickster character from Native American folklore is back to his old tricks again. Coyote is lazy; he likes to find quick and effortless solutions to his problems. Realizing that he is getting old and frail, Coyote asks Buffalo to give him some of his strength, youth, and power. Buffalo obliges somewhat and gives Coyote his youth and strength but keeps the power. Coyote is transformed into a buffote, a buffalo with the tale of a coyote. Naturally Coyote's youth goes to his head with comic and just results. Stevens uses a palette of desert colors-blues, browns and purples to bring this entertaining trickster tale to life.School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-Coyote, introduced in Stevens's Coyote Steals the Blanket (Holiday, 1993), is back, looking skinnier than ever. The gleam is gone from his eye. The fluff is gone from his tail. He is one scraggly dude. Only the stubbornly cocky ears hint at the spirit that resides within. Buzzard sees the end in sight. He's hovering close above, when Coyote spies Young Buffalo. Inspiration strikes. Coyote asks Buffalo for strength, youth, and power. Agreeing to share the first two qualities, Buffalo hurls himself off a butte with Coyote, and when they hit the bottom, there is one Buffalo and one Buffote. Forgetting instantly that he has not acquired power, Buffote bullies old Rat, Lizard, and Rabbit up to the butte, ignoring their protests that age has brought them experience, respect, and wisdom. When the dust clears at the bottom, nobody has changed except Buffote, who is old Coyote once more. Has he learned his lesson? Check the back cover. Stevens's strong, direct telling meshes well with the energy and wit of her drawings. The artist is surely a master at portraying the comic essence of animals. Coyote is everything sly and hopeful. Buffalo is so big he sometimes falls off the page. The useful source note says this retelling is loosely based on a Shoshoni tale, and it is brisk and brief enough to make it a lively story time choice. And when teachers come looking for materials on aging, don't let them get away without this one.-Sally Margolis, formerly at Deerfield Public Library, ILBook Details
Published
September 1, 1997
Publisher
Holiday House, Inc.
Pages
32
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780823413379