A parent might reach for this book when their child is fascinated by adventure stories but also needs to see that cleverness, not just strength, can win the day. It's an excellent choice for introducing children to the richness of Indigenous American storytelling and folklore. The book retells a Kutenai legend about a hunter named Coyote who is chased by a fearsome, hungry monster. Using his quick thinking, Coyote enlists the help of the natural world to create obstacles and escape. The story champions themes of bravery, resilience, and ingenuity. With its bold, graphic illustrations and fast-paced plot, it's highly engaging for children ages 5 to 8, offering a visually stunning and culturally significant reading experience.
The story is from Kutenai tradition; context may be needed for full appreciation.
Sensitive Topics
The central conflict involves intense peril: a character is hunted by a monster that explicitly wants to eat him. This is handled metaphorically, in the style of a traditional folktale. The monster is scary, but the violence is never graphic. The resolution is hopeful and empowering, as the protagonist triumphs through cleverness rather than violence. The story is rooted in Kutenai tradition, a secular and cultural context.
Ideal Reader
This is perfect for an adventurous 6 or 7-year-old who loves tales of outsmarting a bigger foe. It will appeal to a child who enjoys mythology, legends, and animal stories, and who is beginning to appreciate stories from diverse cultures. It's also a great fit for a child who sometimes feels small and needs a model for using their brain to solve big problems.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the illustrations of the monster, which are striking but could be frightening to a very sensitive child. It's beneficial to provide context, explaining that this is a legend from the Kutenai people, a real Indigenous group, to ground the story and foster cultural respect. The book can be read cold, but this context enriches the experience. A parent is looking for a book to introduce their child to Native American cultures in an authentic, accessible way. Or, a child has expressed fear of a monster, and the parent wants a story that shows a character overcoming a scary creature through wits.
Age Experience
A younger child (5-6) will primarily connect with the excitement of the chase, the repetitive calls for help, and the clear good-versus-bad dynamic. An older child (7-8) will better appreciate the cleverness of Coyote's solutions, the cultural specificity of the tale, and the unique cut-paper art style. They may also have more questions about legends and the Kutenai people.
What Makes It Special
The most unique aspect is Beatrice Tanaka's bold, graphic cut-paper collage artwork. It creates a powerful, stylized visual language that stands apart from typical picture book illustrations. Additionally, it features a story from a specific and less frequently represented Indigenous nation (Kutenai), offering an authentic window into a particular storytelling tradition.
Read plot summary
This book is a retelling of a traditional Kutenai (Ktunaxa) tale. A hunter, Coyote, finds a giant monster asleep and cheekily steals its blanket. The monster awakens and chases Coyote, intending to eat him. To escape, Coyote calls upon a rock to grow, a thicket to become impenetrable, and a lake to let him cross while stopping the monster. Coyote ultimately outsmarts the monster, securing his safety through ingenuity and a connection with the natural world.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Coyote asked the rock, the bush, and the lake for help. If you were being chased, what three things in nature would you ask for help, and what would you ask them to do?
2
The monster was big and strong, but Coyote was clever. Which of Coyote's tricks did you think was the smartest? Why was being clever more useful than being strong in this story?
3
At the beginning, Coyote decides to take the monster's blanket. What do you think would have happened if he had just walked past without taking it?
4
The pictures in this book are made from cut paper. How does this style of art make the story feel? Does it feel more like a dream, a legend, or something that really happened?
