Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote

by Duncan Tonatiuh

 In this allegorical picture book, a young rabbit named Pancho eagerly awaits his papa’s return. Papa Rabbit traveled north two years ago to find work in the great carrot and lettuce fields to earn money for his family. When Papa does not return, Pancho sets out to find him. He packs Papa’s favorite meal—mole, rice and beans, a heap of warm tortillas, and a jug of aguamiel—and heads north. He meets a coyote, who offers to help Pancho in exchange for some of Papa’s food. They travel together until the food is gone and the coyote decides he is still hungry . . . for Pancho!
Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the hardship and struggles faced by thousands of families who seek to make better lives for themselves and their children by illegally crossing the border.

Praise for Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote
STARRED REVIEWS
"Tonatiuh’s great strength is in the text. No word is wasted, as each emotion is clearly and poignantly expressed. The rabbits’ future is unknown, but their love and faith in each other sustains them through it all. Accessible for young readers, who may be drawn to it as they would a classic fable; perfect for mature readers and the classroom, where its layers of truth and meaning can be peeled back to be examined and discussed. An incandescent, humane and terribly necessary addition to the immigrant-story shelf."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"In both prose and art, Tonatiuh expertly balances folkloric elements with stark, modern realities; Pancho Rabbit’s trip has the feel of a classic fable or fairy tale, with the untrustworthy coyote demanding more and more of him."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The book shows the fragility of making a living, the desperation that many migrants experience, and the deep family ties that bind the characters. Classrooms studying the migrant experience will find plenty to discuss here."
—School Library Journal

“This will spark strong responses and needed discussion.”
—Booklist

"Tonatiuh is so careful in weaving his allegory that his empathetic contemporary tale feels like age-old folklore, with simple but compelling text and a step-by-step escalation of the story through gripping, kid-understandable challenges."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Awards
Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Honor book 2014
New York Public Library’s annual Children’s Books list: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2013
Kirkus Best Books of 2013
Best Multicultural Children's Books 2013 (Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature)
Notable Children's Books from ALSC 2014
Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award 2014

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Cultural, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Latinx

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

I was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I received my BFA from Parsons School of Design and my BA from Eugene Lang College, both of them divisions of the New School University in New York City.

My first picture book "Dear Primo, a letter to my cousin" is published by H N Abrams and will be in stores March 1st, 2010.

My illustrations of the AH1N1 in Mexico were selected to be a part of CONACULTA's catalog of Mexican illustrators for children and young adults. They also appeared in the BBC when the pandemic broke out.

My short graphic novel Journey of a Mixteco was awarded the prize for the best thesis in the Integrated Design Curriculum department at Parsons. It appeared serially in the webcomix site topshelfcomix 2.0

I'm currently working on two new picture books. And I regularly upload new illustrations about current events to my blog.

Reviews

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Papa Rabbit had traveled north to find work when the rains didn’t come one year. Finally, after two years, he was returning home to his family. A party was planned with food and music, but Papa Rabbit didn’t come back. When the other rabbits went to sleep, Pancho Rabbit set out to find his father. He took with him his father’s favorite meal of mole, rice and beans, tortillas, and a jug of aguamiel. As he traveled, Pancho met a coyote, who offered to help him reach his father. The coyote demanded payment of the mole up front, then taking Pancho to the train tracks where they jumped a train. As the journey continued, the coyote demanded food after each part of the journey until Pancho was out of food. Then Pancho himself was the only food for the coyote to demand. This allegorical tale of migrant workers coming to the United States is a powerful look at the dangers they face and the love that drives them.

Tonatiuh writes with a strength here, each word seemingly chosen for its impact and power. The importance of this sort of story for young children cannot be ignored. This book carefully dresses the horrors of the story in folktales, but the purpose is still clear. Those folktale devices are particularly effective in a story such as this, allowing the reader to see the dangers but not be overwhelmed by them. The use of the different pieces of food as payment is particularly clever as is the character of the coyote being that animal.

The illustrations convey the folktale structure as well. Done in a flattened style, they have strong lines and shapes. Tonatiuh makes clever use of textures like jean material, tires, fur and textured paper. This added touch ensures that readers recognize the modern nature of the tale.

This book belongs in every library since it deals with a current issue that affects many in our communities directly. Teachers will find this book especially useful when discussion immigration as well. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Sarah]

Text to World Connection
Initially, the pages of Pancho Rabbit and Coyote remind me very much of my time spent immersed in Mexican culture. The family, food, music, clothing, and importance of celebration connect with what I regularly see in South Omaha. The most significant connection I made was in the story’s illustrations. In high school, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Mexico City where I became very intrigued by Aztec art. In college, I thrived in an ancient Latin American art history class. The illustrations in this book use classic Aztec shapes, patterns, and character expressions giving this fable a timeless feel.

The storyline uses animal characters to describe struggles faced by Mexican immigrants seeking jobs in the North. At first, the story does not seem to have multiple perspectives. Going to the North for work just seems like a normal way of life, but in the last few pages readers find out that the animals do not wish to travel north for work. They must do so in order to provide for their families. The coyote’s trickery teaches Pancho (and readers) that the initial trip to the north can be life threatening. In the end, the family offers to join Papa in the north if he must go. Again, showing readers that sometimes only certain family members immigrate, and other times entire families immigrate together, depending on each family’s situation.

Questions
Remembering: What did Pancho carry with him on his trip?
Understanding: What kinds of character traits does the coyote display?
Applying: What would have happened to Pancho if his father had not found him?
Analyzing: What lesson did Pancho learn in this story?
Evaluating: Why did the coyote help Pancho instead of eating him right away?
Creating: What might happen if Pancho’s whole family travels to El Norte the next time they run out of food?

[Mary Birky Collier]

TEXT-TO-WORLD CONNECTION: This book is clearly the telling of real-life Latin-American families experiences as migrant workers as well as their experiences being smuggled across borders to work or live. The use of animals as characters—rabbits, roosters, rams, and coyotes—helps add a lighter and more child-friendly tone to helping readers become aware of all that Latin American families go through, especially in terms of risk, fear, danger, and loss, to find and make better lives for themselves and their families.
EXPOSURE TO MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES/VALUES: This book clearly exposes readers to perspectives very likely new to them—that of families who send their parents (in this case, fathers) far away and through dangerous territory to find work and, therefore, support their families. In addition, readers are exposed to other aspects of Latin-American culture, including food (mole, tortillas, aguamiel), a few Spanish words that are fairly similar to American English words (musica, rancho, senora, fiesta), and well as universal values that cross cultural lines (family, danger, celebrations).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) List the names of the main characters. Which two characters are the protagonist and antagonist?
2) When in the story do you start to be able to tell that the coyote is not a good character?
3) What examples can you find to support that the coyote is a bad character? When is the climax of his evil behavior?
4) How would you describe the relationship between Pancho Rabbit and Papa Rabbit? How does this influence his behavior and the decisions he makes in the story?
5) Do you think Pancho Rabbit learned any lessons from what happened to him and his father in the story?
6) What inferences can you make about how the events of this story will change the Rabbit family in the future?

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I have read many children’s books that dealt with people from other countries immigrating to America for a better life. But, I had never read a children’s book that went in depth with the immigration between Mexico and America and the reasons behind it. “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale” by Duncan Tonatiuh is such a tale that tackles the subject of immigration and yet also discusses about the importance of family in such an informative and effective way!

The story starts off with Papa Rabbit going off to the carrot and lettuce fields far away to the North in order to earn extra money for his family. Unfortunately, when Pancho and his family eagerly await the arrival of Papa Rabbit, Papa Rabbit never showed up back home and Pancho and his family started getting worried about Papa Rabbit. So, late during the night, Pancho decided to go out and find Papa Rabbit himself, while packing some of his father’s favorite food, which included mole, rice and beans, tortillas and a jug full of fresh aguamiel. Along the way, Pancho meets up with a coyote who tells Pancho that he can take him to his father if Pancho gives him the food that he is carrying. Even though Pancho did not want to give up the food he was going to give to his father, he longed to see his father again, so he decided to give the coyote all of his food. Once the coyote realizes that Pancho ran out of food…

What will the coyote do to Pancho?

Read this book to find out!

Wow! This book was simply amazing and heartwarming at the same time! I just loved the way that Duncan Tonatiuh wrote this book as the writing was extremely touching and sharp and I loved the way that he wrote the characters, especially Pancho Rabbit himself. I loved the fact that Pancho was a brave and determined child who only wanted to see his father and the fact that he journeyed across the desert with his food barely intact really showed his determined nature throughout the story, which made him into such an inspiring character. Duncan Tonatiuh has done a splendid job at explaining about the obstacles that most immigrants face whenever they are migrating to another country in order to provide more food and money for their families and I like the fact that there was more emphasis put on Papa Rabbit trying to provide for his family rather than explain how his situation as an immigrant would have been treated in another country. I also loved the little author’s note at the end where Duncan Tonatiuh provided statistics regarding immigrants coming to America and how to look at the situation from an immigrant’s perspective instead of assuming false facts about their situation in going to America to get a good job. Duncan Tonatiuh’s artwork is highly creative as it is hand drawn and then collaged digitally and it gives the book a unique feel as I rarely see artwork where you see cut outs from magazines being combined with hand-drawn artwork. I also loved the Mexican influence of the artwork as it made me feel like I am living in Mexico right as I am reading this book!



The only problem I had with this book was that the ending felt a bit abrupt as there was a major plot point that happened near the end of the book and it was not quite resolved. I would have liked to see that plot point actually be resolved towards the end of this story. I will not give out too many details about what happened at the end since I do not want to spoil anything, but let us just say that it dealt with people stealing items from one of the characters.

Overall, “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote” is a truly lovely story about the experiences of immigration and the importance of family that many children will enjoy for years! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since some of the Mexican language might be a bit hard for smaller children to understand.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an allegory, and not a subtle one. It is about why undocumented aliens come to the United States (el Norte) to work: if they don't, their families will starve. A bunch of animals decide they need to go work in el Norte to support their families. On the day Papa Rabbit is due back the animals at home have a party to welcome him back. But no one shows up! Pancho decides he simply can't sit around and packs up some of the food and drink and goes to look for him. Not long after leaving he meets a coyote. Now this has two meanings, as most Hispanics will know. It is the animal, which is what is represented in the book, and it is the guy who leads illegal aliens over the border, usually for exorbitant amounts of money. This coyote keeps eating all of Pancho's food that he meant for Papa and once that was all gone, decides that Pancho would make a great snack. Papa and his friends hear him and rescue him in the nick of time. Of course they then all go home. The kids all insist that they will accompany Papa if times remain bad and he has to go to el Norte again next year. Mama basically sighs and hopes that things improve and that isn't necessary. So this is not a happily ever after story that you would expect in a picture book and I don't know that it would go over well in story time since it is also rather long in addition to controversial in certain areas. Nonetheless, in Hispanic and other undocumented aliens communities, this book will be highly appreciated. A quite blunt author's note follows with a brief timeline and references then a glossary of the Spanish words used in the text. Most of these words can be figured out from the text or the illustrations. This was a both Pura Belpre Illustrator and Author Honor book, and well deserved both accolades.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote as part of a quad text set for Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Great story!

[Danielle]

Excellent backmatter.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text to text:

This book reminds me of the Skippy John Jones Series. They both have a bilingual theme. They also both have Hispanic themes. I will say though that this book is way more culturally relevant. I find the Skippy John Jones books almost bordering racist stereotypes.

Questions:

1. Who helped Pancho get to his dad? What did he have to give him?
2. Describe what happened before Pancho found his father?
3. What questions would you ask the coyote if you meet him? How did this coyote remind you of other coyotes/wolves in stories?
4. How are the coyote and Pancho different? How are they alike?
5. Would you have gone with the coyote? Why or why not?
6. Create a new ending? What do you think would have happened if Pancho's dad would not have shown up? Why was he there? What happened to him so that he was in the same place as Pancho?

Citation: (2013, April 1). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about migrant workers and the dangers they face. A father does not come home from working in El Norte and his son sets of to find him, dealing with all the dangers of the trip to the fields in El Norte. He is rescued by his father and his friends, but the fathers have had their own problems and if the drought doesn't end, the fathers will have to go back.

A desperately needed book.

[Cherilyn Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is interesting to children because of the colors and how the animals are showing two different perspectives in how they want more food. The book is age appropriate because children will be able to see animals that they might already know about. There is an accurate problem and solution in the story, the rabbit is on his way to find his father but ends up getting lost. The characters are convincing and are able to show how the people crossing the border are dressed. The book is in Spanglish is able to show how even though the main characters could speak in English there are some words that portray their main ideas more accurately in Spanish.

The illustrations in the book are accurate, because of the setting and the plot, they show how the people would through the various struggles of how people travel to the U.S. The illustrations hold the child's interest because of how colorful and detailed they are. I also think about how realistic the characters are, however, I do worry that since they are animals they are missing the point completely. Why would a rabbit travel to the U.S. maybe if they were both people this story would be more accurate

There are some negative stereotypes being added because of the animals. For example, the coyote is an actual animal instead of how people use the coyote to help them travel and it is a person. There would have to be an explanation of what is an animal coyote and a person coyote. The other problem with this book is about eating the rabbit. I do not think that is accurate and will make children think that they just want to eat each other when the problems could be shown differently. The author spoke from experience though since he was both American and Mexican.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an allegorical tale about a young rabbit named Pancho who is eagerly awaiting the return of Papá Rabbit. Papá and two friends had gone up north to work in the fields and earn needed money when their own crops failed. But when Papá doesn't arrive home when expected, Pancho decides to go look for him. Packing Papá's favorite meal, Pancho heads out and soon meets Señor Coyote, who offers to take him safely north for the sweet and spicy mole Pancho had packed. They travel together, but when Pancho runs out of food with which to pay the coyote, he decides to roast Pancho. Luckily, Papá Rabbit saves Pancho just in time, having heard his cries. Papá Rabbit and his friends were delayed on their way home because they had been robbed of the money they had earned picking crops. This sounds like a simple story, but it clearly depicts in both words and picture the perilous journey north, the greed, ruthlessness and treachery of the coyotes guides who take advantage on desperate migrants, and thieves who prey on vulnerable migrant workers, robbing them of the wages they worked so hard for. Young readers may see this as a typical fable, but it can be brilliantly unpacked with older readers who are more aware of and have a better understanding of the border problems that face migrants, immigrants, and refugees.

[Lanie Pietramala Dabbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was clever, engaging, and provides an eyeopening perspective about immigration. I loved how the author used animals to tell the story. While the animals make it an exciting read for children, they also make it very intriguing to analyze from a critical perspective. As the author points out in the end of the book, he purposely choose the animals for deeper meaning. For example, coyote has two meanings (animal and a person who smuggles people between U.S. and Mexico). I think this book does a great job demonstrating the emotional toll that young children experience because of forced separation. The longing, fear, and sadness that Pancho Rabbit feels are important for readers to witness and understand. I will definitely be reading this book again.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems scary to think of saying goodbye to a papa who is off to work so he can take care of the family, and then waiting for him to come home, and waiting and waiting. This loving but tense story of young Pancho Rabbit’s papa and the family who awaits his return is a picture book allegory that offers an entry into discussing illegal immigration with children. All the family has prepared a celebration to welcome Papa home, but when he doesn’t come, young Pancho sets off, carrying favorite foods with him. A coyote offers to help, but each time another problem arises, he insists on some of the food. The hardships and challenges faced by real people are shown in a loving manner through using rabbits instead. There is a little tension that turns out okay, a good place to begin an understanding. Family support is a highlight of the book.
Tonatiuh continues his unique way of illustrating, paying tribute to ancient codexes and their drawings: people and animals are always drawn in profile and their entire bodies are usually shown. After holding true to those "rules", enormous emotion is still shown in the pages.

[Zina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young rabbit named Poncho, whose father went up north for a couple of years to work in a carrot and lettuce field to make money for his family. When it was time for Ponchos father to return home, the family decided to throw him a party and make him his favorite foods and drink. After waiting for a while Poncho and his family became worried because their father had not returned. Poncho decided to go up north and look for his father. On his way he met Coyote who told him he knew a short cut to get up north and would take him for some of his food. So they went a little ways north and Coyote asked for more food, and they traveled some more and he asked Poncho for more food until all his food and drinks were gone. Then Coyote decided he would just eat Poncho and…you have to read the book to find out.
Overall this was a great book about families who had to travel across the border and the routes and risks they have to take to make money for their families.

[RLL22018_Jorge Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book touched my heart. Pancho Rabbit’s Father left to el norte, the U.S., to work. This was an opportunity for his Father to be able to better provide for his family. I could relate to it in the sense that my parents came over to the U.S. for a better future. However, in the story only the father goes and leaves his family behind. When his family gathers familyand friends to welcome him back home, he is a no show. This has Pancho Rabbit worried and decides to go on a journey to find his dad. On this journey he is led by a coyote and is able to reach far by trading goods, but when he runs out his life is in danger.

I love the way the author uses animals as the characters for the book. It adds personality to their character. I would say this book can be used 1st - 4th. The lessons I can use to teach my class would be not to trust strangers and also have a conversation on why people as well as animals migrate. The book also provides words in spanish that could be used to learn new vocabulary.

[Beatrice Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging story or a Mexican rabbit father who leaves home for work for months and never returns and how the eldest son goes off to find him. An adventure that takes a frightening and sinister turn. Love the art style and its very real fear in this adventure.

[Desi A · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I understand the role of using anthropomorphic animal stories to introduce difficult topics for kids, sometimes I worry that might actually make it harder for (a child at the right age) to get the point.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story AND illustrations. It a great tool to start a conversation about immigration--for children AND adults.

[Lakynn Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book!!! The illustrations within the book reminded me of ancient civilization paintings! Come to find out the pictures were symbolizing Spanish art! Likewise, this book incorporated Spanish vocabulary within the story which I found really cool and educational! The wording wasn't swarmed with Spanish words but there was just enough to keep it interesting and engaging! At the end of the book the author left a note to the readers explaining his background and how this story tied along to his life! It was really touching and eye opening - I highly recommend reading this book!

[AnnaBelle Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only put for stars because I wish there was a little more about the journey of his pa. But this book was great, it shows real foods that they would want to eat, and in my eyes warns you to never trust coyote. In other words, even when someone acts like a friend do not forget their nature, their intention. It was a great twist in events to have pa and the other creatures come and save the MC though!

[Lizette Bernardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book that has received the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award! This book contains a beautiful theme of the Mexican culture and the setting takes place in Mexico. The rising action of the fiction book takes place when papa doesn’t arrive home. Read to find out more!

[Jill Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text to World: Picture

Pancho Rabbit’s father and others leaves their Rancho in order to find work in the carrot and lettuce fields up north. The fathers will earn money for their families and bring it home. On the day that the fathers are supposed to be home, they do not make it. Pancho gets worried and sets out on the long journey north, with food, to find his father. On the way, Pancho encounters Coyote who offers to show him the way to the carrot and lettuce fields. They travel on top of trains, swim across rivers, and sneak through underground tunnels. In order to pay for his way, Pancho has to share his food with Coyote and other’s. Once they get to the north, the Coyote is still hungry and Pancho has nothing left to give. Coyote wants to eat Pancho as payment. Pancho is tired, hungry, and has no energy to run and all he can do is yell. This yell is heard by his father and the other men from their community. On their way home, they were also set upon by thieves who stole their money. They all return back to the Rancho, knowing that they will probably have to go back north again to support their family. Only, this time if they have to go, the whole rabbit family will go with them.
The author was raised in a middle class family in Mexico. His father was Mexican and mother was American. He was fortunate, but many kids in his neighborhood were not. Some had left for the U.S. and came back and told stories that made it into this book. He goes on about how 150,000 unauthorized immigrants enter the U.S. yearly, and the number tripled in the early 2000’s. Most immigrants leave their countries because of poverty and lack of opportunities. They come to the U.S. hoping for a better life for their families. The immigrants pay large fees to “Coyotes” and risk their lives by coming here. It is a very dangerous journey in many ways.
This book shows exactly what lengths a person will go to in order to have a better life either for themselves or their families. If you have no opportunities or no way to support yourself, I can see exactly why you might look to another country as an option. Especially, looking at how good we have it here in the U.S. Many of these immigrants who risk their lives coming here hope for a better future. The author notes also mentions that when American’s talk about illegal immigrants, they think drug dealers and terrorists. In 2008, 94% of undocumented immigrant men of working age were employed, compared to 83% of the U.S. born men. He is trying to get the point across that immigrants come here to work and have a better life. If they had this at home, they wouldn’t need to come here. We need to learn more in order to change negative opinions about undocumented workers in our country.

Questions:
1. Remembering: Can you tell me three things that happened to Pancho on his journey north with the Coyote?
2. Understanding: Can you summarize the story for me?
3. Applying: Think of a situation in the story and tell me what you would have done.
4. Analyzing: What was the reason that Pancho’s father left his family to go north?
5. Evaluating: What choice would you have made if you were in Pancho’s fathers situation?
6. Creating: What do you predict will happen in the future with Pancho’s family?

[Anne Soderlund]

Reflection Text to world – Even though this is a story about trying to cross the border into America to find Pancho's father, it reminds me of all of the news about boats full of refugees from Myanmar that are stranded because countries refuse to allow them entrance. http://nypost.com/2015/05/15/thousand... [retrieved 6-19-2015]


Pancho Rabbit's father has been working in the North, the family is planning a fiesta for his return, but he doesn't show up. Pancho takes some supplies and sets out to find his father. He is “helped” along the way by a coyote who makes him pay for each bit of advice. When Pancho runs out of food with which to pay the coyote, Coyote says he will eat Pancho. Even though I'd forgotten that the profiteers who make people pay dearly for their help in crossing borders are called coyotes, I could clearly see the culture that was being portrayed. It doesn't hurt that there are cultural references such as fiesta instead of party and foods like tortillas, mole, and aguamiel instead of chips and dip and punch or lemonade.

Discussion questions:

Remember: List ways the Coyote help Pancho Rabbit on his journey and how Pancho paid for the help.

Understand: Describe the reasons that Papa Rabbit and his friends left the rancho at the beginning of the story. What kept them from coming home when they were expected?

Apply: Find a current event article that compares to this story. Explain your choice.

Analyze: Was Coyote a good friend/helper to Pancho? Give details to support your point of view.

Evaluate: How can you decide when a person is helping to be helpful or when they are doing it for their own selfish reasons?

Create: If you were going to prepare a fiesta, what foods would you make? Make a menu and think about the food groups. Don't forget a beverage!

[Aris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an addition to the Latino community!

This book starts off with Papa Rabbit heading north to work in the carrot and lettuce fields following a drought in their homeland. After a while, the Rabbit family prepares a great feast and music to welcome the father and comrades back home. After much waiting, Papa Rabbit does not show up. Pancho Rabbit, son of Papa Rabbit, takes matters into his own hands and journeys to find his father along with a book bag full of his father's favorite foods: mole, tortilla, rice and beans and fresh aguamiel. Along the way, he encounters a coyote who pressures Pancho to trade the food (for his father) for a guide to lead him to his father. It's a long journey; swimming through rivers, crawling through tunnels, walking in the scorching desert. He ends up running out of food to give to the Coyote, who feels he has not choice but to each Pancho until...

This book is a Pura Belpre Honor book for the Illustrator and Author and has been featured in the Children's Choice List for 2014. Very well deserved honors and mention for a story that sparks deep conversation among students on a topic that is highly debated in our country: immigration. Tonatiuh integrates Spanish in his text but also provides illustrations that support the reader in understanding what these words mean. The illustrations are colorful, appealing and include collages that bring the real world scenery into play.

Great book for children Pre-k to 3rd grade. Teachers can definitely use this for Social Studies and Social Emotional topics. Great books for higher level discussions and teaching argument for 2nd-3rd grade.

[Evan Molin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a family of rabbits who live in Mexico and the father and his friends need to go north in order to find work and provide for his entire family. The family waits for him to come back but he never does, so Pancho Rabbit, one of the sons, decides to fill a bag up with his father’s favorite meal and head north to find him. After encountering the Coyote who befriends him initially, leads him north for a while, but then attempts to eat him, Pancho screams. And all of a sudden Pancho’s father shows up with his friends and save Pancho from the Coyote. They eventually return home and tell their family of the experiences they encountered. This would be a good book for a classroom because it would help kids with predicting the text. It also talks about a very significant topic in our culture here in the United States and the culture of Central Americans coming across the border in search of work. I think that there would definitely be students whose families relate to the topic. It is also a subject that is necessary for people to be aware of and this book does a good job of telling the story with a lighter touch on it since it is a children’s picture book.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pancho is waiting for his Papa to come home from the North. A big fiesta is planned, but Papa doesn't come on time. Pancho is worried, and when Coyote offers to take him North in exchange for the food Pancho carries, Pancho agrees. The journey is hard, and Coyote takes more and more. Eventually, Pancho fears for his life, but Papa shows up just in time.

This story is an allegory for the experience of many migrant workers and illegal immigrants from Central America and Mexico to the US. Tonatiuh includes a note at the back explaining the plight of the people represented by Pancho's family, the real coyotes and rooster gangs who try to exploit their situation, and why this is a tricky legal issue for countries. As always, I have a hard time liking Toatiuh's illustrations. I just can't get into his ancient Central American art style, but I do appreciate the cultural element and the way he put his allegory together. It is a well-done story that helps portray this issue in ways kids can understand.

[Cassidy Gilbride · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought of two text-to-text connections that I could make in this book. A text-to-text connection is a way to connect one work to another, whether it be comparing or contrasting. This engages a student's knowledge of previously read texts. The first connection that I made was to Little Red Riding Hood. The coyote in this book reminded me a lot of the wolf in that story. He is all nice and willing to help right up until the end, when he decides that he is hungry for the main character. The other text connection I made was to a book called Enrique's Journey. This was a book that we had to read over the summer in high school. The two go hand-in-hand as they are both about the struggle of people in Mexico that must illegally travel to the United States to provide for their families. Specifically, there is a part in this book where Pancho Rabbit and the coyote must ride on top of a train, and this is a big and important aspect of Enrique's journey to America also.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote by Duncan Tonatiuh – A Migrant’s Tale – Coyote has two meanings- 1- the animal, 2- a person who smuggles people from Mexico to the US. Really fascinating introduction to migrants, survival, experiences of those in poverty… approachable for young children and also perfect for beginning a discussion with older children. There are so many undocumented people here in the US that work hard to survive. So many people who have a fear of being discovered and not having security either at home or where they migrated to… good book to share. Plus it is a cute little story about a rabbit who isn’t tricked by a coyote and is able to help rescue his father.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story of Pancho Rabbit anxiously waiting for his father to return from"el norte" where he went to work. After realizing that his father had not arrived, he took it upon himself to go look for him. The sneaky Coyote tricks him by taking him to see his father in exchange for food only to find out that he would be dinner when the mole was gone. This story talks about the dangers people face when coming to the Unites States from Mexico. Although the story is fictional, I still think it is appropriate for grade levels K-5. In my personal opinion, the audio version of this book was not the greatest. I would have hoped that there would have been sound effects to go with the story.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Mexican folktale is actually an allegory for the problems Mexicans face when they are trying to enter or leave the United States illegally for work. Teaching in a school with a majority Hispanic population, we have actually had some families who had members being held by the "Coyotes" because of their inability to pay the fees the Coyotes required of them. It is a serious but important book that can help children to better understand the plight of illegal immigrants.