Coyote Places the Stars

Based on a Wasco Indian story, this arresting picture book debut posits how star constellations came to be. One night Coyote climbs to the moon on a ladder made of arrows in order to discover the secrets of the heavens. There he rearranges the stars "to make pictures in the sky." Afterwards he invites his animal friends to see his creations, and all search for their likenesses in the night air. Taylor's down-to-earth presentation of this magical story adds to its charm. Coyote is a likable fellow, and the arrogance underlying his desire to meddle with the stars is easily forgiven. Striking, batik-like illustrations, on cotton fabric painted with dyes, show violet skies sprinkled with stars, and layered landscapes scenically detailed. This book pulses with the effervescent joy of color and creation, and children will love being swirled into its center. Ages 4-7. (Sept.)

Gr 1-5-Based on a Wasco Native American legend, this dramatically illustrated pourquoi tale explains the designs of the constellations. It is the curious coyote who decides to discover the secrets of the heavens by creating a ladder of arrows he shoots into the sky. Once in the heavens, he moves the stars around forming the shapes of his animal friends, and he calls them all together to enjoy his handiwork. The simple, quickly moving text is luminously illustrated with colorful border designs around some of the text as well as full-and double-page spreads of the constellations, Southwestern landscape, and animals, created by painting dyes on cotton fabric and detailing with the wax-resist batik method. This technique affords an effective white outline of important objects. The onomatopoetic language makes this a natural tale for classroom reading, but the artwork can be best appreciated by independent readers.-Yvonne Frey, Peoria Public Schools, IL