Product Description

On the top of a mountain, guarded by three Evil Spirits, mighty Fire blazes. From their cold, dark lodges in the valley below, the People long for Fire. But how can they get it? This is a job for wise and crafty Coyote. “Sparks in this book fly from the pictures as well as from the words.”--School Library Journal

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #256135 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Coyote, a frequent star of Native American trickster tales, puts his imagination into overdrive to bring fire to a tribe in the Pacific Northwest. Such a feat should be easy for the super-confident Coyote-all he has to do is outwit the three awful ogres who tend fire on the mountaintop. With a little help from his animal friends (including an Olympics-worthy relay effort), Coyote saves the day. Goldin's (The Passover Journey; Cakes and Miracles) fresh interpretation of Coyote as a pompous but respected do-gooder gives her well-paced tale added dimension. Her underlying themes in praise of cooperation and kindness are also welcome. From mat lodges to fishing spears to tanned-hide clothing, Hillenbrand's (Traveling to Tondo) warm and textured oil and oil pastel art offers a thoughtfully researched portrait of Pacific Northwest Indians. In addition, his renderings of jocund animals and gruesome yet goofy evil spirits lend a quirky lighthearted air to the proceedings. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6?In Native traditions of the Pacific Northwest, as elsewhere, Coyote's tricky nature makes him both a helpful hero and a boastful egotist. In this tale, the People are cold and hungry, so they ask Coyote to steal Fire, burning on a snowy mountaintop guarded by three evil spirits. Stealing a plan from his sisters, he executes it with determination and verve. When the stolen firebrand is swallowed by a tree, the evil spirits are sure no one will be able to retrieve it. But Coyote rubs dry sticks of wood together "until sparks came." Readers leave him basking in praise. It is the characterization of Coyote, understated but unmistakable, that raises this tale above the common pourquoi. Sparks in this book fly from the pictures as well as from the words. Hillenbrand's proto-Oregonians actually look like themselves, and not like Hollywood Indians. Their artifacts, clothes, and homes are unassumingly authentic (not a totem pole in sight). The layout is often dramatic, and the evil spirits are green and clunky, with red eyes and troll faces. Best of all is Coyote, a foxy red cousin of Wile E. himself, whose foolish vanity is conveyed by his swollen chest, but whose exuberant joy in life radiates from his splayed limbs and perky tail. Few readers will fail to recognize a bit of this animal in themselves.?Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. Who doesn't have a favorite, thoroughly ugly picture-book villain? Move aside, Shrek [Shrek! by William Steig (1990)] and Loathly Lady [Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady by Selina Hastings (1985)], make room for Hillenbrand's trio of ugly-to-the-bone antagonists. In this pourquoi tale, set in a time before humans had fire, coyote allows himself to be flattered into stealing fire from its guardians, three gnarled, gruesome, ghastly evil spirits. Along the way, coyote receives help from squirrel and frog, who are forever changed by the experience. The animals win, and coyote shows people how to make fire by rubbing sticks together. A strong read-aloud choice for younger children; older elementary-school students may want to compare this with other recent coyote or trickster tales. The author's note provides sources and additional information on coyote tales. The illustrator's note touches on his research regarding the Pacific Northwest Indians, who originally told this tale. There is a sense of respect toward readers, the story, and traditional telling here. Karen Morgan

Customer Reviews

A Great Tale of the Bringing of Fire to America
Wonderful, Splendid, what more can I say. A tale of cooperation in getting fire for the people. Coyote, usually a trickster, works with other animals to get fire from the mountain. Highly Recomended for Children of all Ages.