The Coyote Under the Table/El coyote debajo de la mesa

November 15, 2011
Eight tales of tricksters and magical transformations are given a Southwestern setting by a veteran storyteller and paired to Spanish versions on facing pages. Despite occasional common folkloric elements, the stories are not just regional variations on "Cinderella" and other well-worn chestnuts. In "If I Were an Eagle / Si Yo Fuera Águila," for instance, an orphan lad with the ability to turn himself into various animals rescues a kidnapped princess from a giant but marries the shepherd's daughter who saves him from a bear. A village comedian subsequently answers three supposedly impossible questions to save a beloved priest in "What Am I Thinking? / ¿Qué Estoy Pensando?" and in "Caught on a Nail / Enganchado en un Clavo," a clever young woman fools three persistent suitors into terrifying one another. Other tales feature a magical ring that sows dismay by doubling and redoubling the wearer's strength, a spotted cat who leads a young third brother to riches and (in the title story) a coyote and an old dog who put aside their traditional enmity to become allies. Each tale opens with a realistically detailed black-and-white scene to set the comic or dramatic mood. Though previously published (in English only) by a small press as Everyone Knows Gato Pinto (1992) and also available in audio versions, these wise and witty tales continue to repay fresh encounters. (source notes) (Folktales. 10-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012

Gr 5 Up-In the title story, a dog makes friends with his former enemy, Coyote. Thinking that he is no longer useful, the canine is about to be put down by his masters. But Coyote has a plan for him to prove his worth, and the dog is later able to repay the favor. Some of these stories have visible roots in European folklore, but they are all distinctly Hispanic. In a version of "Puss in Boots," Gato Pinto, a spotted cat, saves a young man from the treachery of his jealous brothers. In another, a boy gets the power to turn into an ant, an eagle, and a lion, and uses his skills to rescue a fair maiden. Hayes has a perfect storyteller's voice, and the words flow on the page as though children were listening to the tale in person. The Spanish versions are equally readable and tellable. These tales are a gift to librarians and others who are looking for Latino folktales to share. The illustrator finds the most memorable moments in the stories and brings them to life with feeling. The action is delightful, as are the sometimes hilarious facial expressions. Hayes includes source notes about the provenance of these tales and the changes that he made in his retellings.-Tim Wadham, Children's Literature Consultant, Fenton, MO

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2012
Grades 2-5 Once again Hayes intrigues and amuses with this charming compilation of 10 classic tales from the Latino communities of northern New Mexico. The collectionwhich has the most in common with Hayes' picture book A Spoon for Every Bite (1996)expresses the magical realism of many Latino traditional tales and the vibrancy of protagonists within the oral tradition. Like in The Day It Snowed Tortillas (1995), Hayes retells in both Spanish and English, capturing the authenticity of characters such as el perro viejo and el coyote, who enjoy pozole and tortillas under a family dinner table. Another tale features Gallo Pinto, a guardian cat who loyally aids his owner, Juan Cenizas, in outwitting his greedy brothers. Each of the tales, structured as individual chapters, opens with a beautiful full-page pencil sketch by Castro. With Hayes' talent to entertain, each chapter can stand on its own as an intermediate elementary classroom read-aloud or as a vehicle through which to study Latino folklore.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)