A Coyote Solstice Tale

Trickster Coyote experiences the pitfalls of excessive consumption in this comically irreverent solstice tale.

Trickster Coyote is having his friends over for a festive solstice get-together in the woods when a little girl comes by unexpectedly. She leads the party-goers through the snowy woods to a shopping mall -- a place they have never seen before.

Coyote gleefully shops with abandon, only to discover that filling your shopping cart with goodies is not quite the same thing as actually paying for them. The trickster is tricked and goes back to his cabin in the woods -- somewhat subdued -- though nothing can keep Coyote down for long.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.4
Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.

THOMAS KING has written several highly acclaimed children’s books. A Coyote Solstice Tale, illustrated by Gary Clement, won the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book and A Coyote Columbus Story, illustrated by William Kent Monkman, was a Governor General’s Award finalist. He was a Professor of English at the University of Guelph for many years, where he taught Native Literature and Creative Writing. He won the Governor General’s Award for his adult novel, The Back of the Turtle, and he has been nominated for the Commonwealth Writers Prize.

• American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award for Best BookWinner 2010

“The humor is dry and affectionate, the rhyming text delights with sly turns of phrase, the watercolor cartoons are whimsical … [A] holiday treat.” — School Library Journal

“This critique of consumerism has the irreverent, biting humour of all King's Coyote stories.” — Toronto Star

“[A] splendid satirical romp, with an equally splendid profusion of watercolour illustrations by the inimitable Gary Clement.” — Globe and Mail

“Dryly humorous cartoon illustrations in pen-and-ink and watercolor wash put Coyote’s emotions on full display.” — Horn Book

“This witty winter tale deftly skewers the materialistic aspect of the holiday season in a humorous, trenchant way.” — Kirkus Reviews