A Review
Roaring Brook Press, 2016 Coyote awakes, the moon shining full above her. She is on the hunt, for she has seven hungry pups to feed. Through a suburban landscape, she prowls, listening for unsuspecting prey. She hears a mouse scuttling beneath a stone wall.
Pounce!
The mouse gets away.
Inside an alder bush, Coyote's nose twitches. She smells geese. The geese, however, will not be had. They hiss, dive, and nip until Coyote turns elsewhere for her family's meal. Next, Coyote's eyes pierce through the darkness, and she spies a rabbit. But Rabbit is quicker than she, and finds safety in a burrow beneath a play set slide. The sun begins to rise. Coyote is yet to catch her prey. Will she return to her den without a meal for her pups? You'll have to read COYOTE MOON to find out!
COYOTE MOON is, in my opinion, so beautifully written by Maria Gianferrari that it is sure to make your toes tremble. The story, narrative nonfiction at its best, rolls off the tongue as a read aloud. The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline masterfully capture the nuances of evening and build an element of wonder and surprise that perfectly harmonizes with the text.
Pounce!
The mouse gets away.
Inside an alder bush, Coyote's nose twitches. She smells geese. The geese, however, will not be had. They hiss, dive, and nip until Coyote turns elsewhere for her family's meal. Next, Coyote's eyes pierce through the darkness, and she spies a rabbit. But Rabbit is quicker than she, and finds safety in a burrow beneath a play set slide. The sun begins to rise. Coyote is yet to catch her prey. Will she return to her den without a meal for her pups? You'll have to read COYOTE MOON to find out!
COYOTE MOON is, in my opinion, so beautifully written by Maria Gianferrari that it is sure to make your toes tremble. The story, narrative nonfiction at its best, rolls off the tongue as a read aloud. The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline masterfully capture the nuances of evening and build an element of wonder and surprise that perfectly harmonizes with the text.
Coyote looks. Her sharp eyes spy Rabbit. She slinks, silent as a shadow. Twigs crack.. Rabbit freezes. Ears twitch. Coyote lunges.
For example, on the page that reads "POUNCE!", Coyote is leaping into the air, yellow eyes gleaming, teeth bared, and padded paws seconds away from (almost) catching prey. At the sight of the page, a preschooler I read this book to, put his arm over his eyes and said, "He's gonna get me!" (Don't worry, the little chap was smiling when he said it and asked me to read it again and again.)
COYOTE MOON is sure to please young readers of all ages who love both nonfiction and animal books, though it is written for ages 7-9. The excitement and anticipation of Coyote's hunt as the evening unfolds will hold their attention, and will build an anticipation for every page turn. Teachers and librarians in search of books about nocturnal animals will not be disappointed when they purchase COYOTE MOON to add to their collection.
In 2017, COYOTE MOON was listed as a Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year in their STEM, ages 5-9 category. In addition, it was listed by the Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) as a 2017 Notable Children’s Book. COYOTE MOON was published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, July 19, 2016.
COYOTE MOON is sure to please young readers of all ages who love both nonfiction and animal books, though it is written for ages 7-9. The excitement and anticipation of Coyote's hunt as the evening unfolds will hold their attention, and will build an anticipation for every page turn. Teachers and librarians in search of books about nocturnal animals will not be disappointed when they purchase COYOTE MOON to add to their collection.
In 2017, COYOTE MOON was listed as a Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year in their STEM, ages 5-9 category. In addition, it was listed by the Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) as a 2017 Notable Children’s Book. COYOTE MOON was published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, July 19, 2016.
