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Coyote Autumn
"You Can't Keep A Coyote! They're Wild...."
Brad has always wanted a dog, so when he catches the little coyote, he decides to keep it. He couldn't have a dog when his family lived in a Chicago apartment, but now that they've moved to rural Oklahoma anything seems possible. Even rescuing an orphaned coyote pup...and keeping it a secret from his parents. With his friend Nolan's help, Brad is determined to tame Scooter, train him, play with him, and hide him in an old dog pen behind the barn. It almost works...until Mom and Dad discover his secret—and Scooter steals their hearts and gives them all a coyote's-eye view of what it's like to live in the dangerous world of men.
Brad has always wanted a dog, so when he catches the little coyote, he decides to keep it. He couldn't have a dog when his family lived in a Chicago apartment, but now that they've moved to rural Oklahoma anything seems possible. Even rescuing an orphaned coyote pup...and keeping it a secret from his parents. With his friend Nolan's help, Brad is determined to tame Scooter, train him, play with him, and hide him in an old dog pen behind the barn. It almost works...until Mom and Dad discover his secret—and Scooter steals their hearts and gives them all a coyote's-eye view of what it's like to live in the dangerous world of men.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
13 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Bill Wallace
99 books186 followersBill Wallace was an American teacher and later an author of children's books. He started writing to quiet down his fourth grade students, who loved his stories and encouraged him to make “real” books.
Bill Wallace grew up in Oklahoma. Along with riding their horses, he and his friends enjoyed campouts and fishing trips. Toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories to scare one another, and catching fish was always fun.
Bill Wallace has won numerous children's state awards and been awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Children's Literature from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.
Bill Wallace died from Lung cancer on January 30, 2012.
Former elementary school teacher; West Elementary School, Chickasha, OK, principal, since 1977, and physical education teacher. Speaker at schools and universities in various states, including State University of New York and University of South Florida.
AWARDS:
Bluebonnet Award from Texas Association of School Librarians and Children's Round Table and Sequoyah Children's Book Award from Oklahoma State Department of Education, both 1983, Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Nebraska Golden Sowers Award from Nebraska Library Association, 1985, all for A Dog Called Kitty; Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Pine Tree Book Award, 1985, both for Trapped in Death Cave.
Bill Wallace grew up in Oklahoma. Along with riding their horses, he and his friends enjoyed campouts and fishing trips. Toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories to scare one another, and catching fish was always fun.
Bill Wallace has won numerous children's state awards and been awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Children's Literature from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.
Bill Wallace died from Lung cancer on January 30, 2012.
Former elementary school teacher; West Elementary School, Chickasha, OK, principal, since 1977, and physical education teacher. Speaker at schools and universities in various states, including State University of New York and University of South Florida.
AWARDS:
Bluebonnet Award from Texas Association of School Librarians and Children's Round Table and Sequoyah Children's Book Award from Oklahoma State Department of Education, both 1983, Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Nebraska Golden Sowers Award from Nebraska Library Association, 1985, all for A Dog Called Kitty; Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Pine Tree Book Award, 1985, both for Trapped in Death Cave.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 10, 2025
Not nearly as heart-wrenching as Beauty or A Dog Called Kitty, but still pretty great.
October 29, 2011
his book is all about Brad and the wild Coyote's that roam the fields where he lives. One day, while he's fishing at the Pond with his best friend Nolan, they stumbles across a baby coyote. Knowing that the little pup will die if he doesn't help it, Brad takes the coyote - who he's named Scooter - home. Brad and Nolan shelter the pup and take care of him. They keep him a secret from his parents. They feed him, play with him and keep him inside the old dog pen behind
the barn. But one day the whole thing comes apart. Will Brad be able to keep the pup? Does he get a dog from his parents? You'll have to read the book to find out.
the barn. But one day the whole thing comes apart. Will Brad be able to keep the pup? Does he get a dog from his parents? You'll have to read the book to find out.
May 14, 2017
Brad is a city boy, recently moved to rural Oklahoma, who has always wanted a dog. At the same time he has become fascinated with some coyotes that live near the farm, and is traumatized when he witnesses their killing by coyote hunters using greyhounds. As in so many books for kids, there has to be a secret to be kept from parents: in this case, a pup that is the lone survivor of the killing. Eventually, of course, Brad has to bear his parents' wrath, but is also gratified to learn that they share his love for Scooter. Even so, it is also inevitable that he has to make the right choice for the coyote's good.
May 31, 2018
Not a lot to say on this book, it provides the common topic many childrens and teens books will use: You can't keep a wild animal. The difference is, if memory serves me, the coyote is released to a wildlife preserve and not tossed into the wild.
While the message is well intended and this book has several scenes I find fresh and pleasant, even going so far as to have the animal ruin outfits by defecating upon them and picking fights with family pets, it's still a message that tends to be vastly overused and wrong.
Animals live longer in captivity. Often happier lives that way. Thus the book holds up better than most, but still hits a sour note with the predictable ending.
While the message is well intended and this book has several scenes I find fresh and pleasant, even going so far as to have the animal ruin outfits by defecating upon them and picking fights with family pets, it's still a message that tends to be vastly overused and wrong.
Animals live longer in captivity. Often happier lives that way. Thus the book holds up better than most, but still hits a sour note with the predictable ending.
March 14, 2019
Brad a 13 year old boy that always wanted a pet day. But living in an apartment in Chicago it wasn’t possible. But when he moved to rual Oklahoma he was hoping he would get what he always wanted for his birthday.
Brad had moved into his house next to a farm. He was really into coyotes. He was surprised to find out that there was coyote hunters using dogs.
My favorite part of the book is when he rescues the pup. After the coyote hunters went through and killed them. But this one survived.
I think this book is a pretty good book. Mainly cause it’s from Oklahoma I recommend this book for those who are in to realistic books I recommend this book because i like coyote hunting too.
Brad had moved into his house next to a farm. He was really into coyotes. He was surprised to find out that there was coyote hunters using dogs.
My favorite part of the book is when he rescues the pup. After the coyote hunters went through and killed them. But this one survived.
I think this book is a pretty good book. Mainly cause it’s from Oklahoma I recommend this book for those who are in to realistic books I recommend this book because i like coyote hunting too.
May 24, 2018
This is a sweet dog story for children. I read it because I enjoyed Wallace's book Red Dog so much several years ago. While this book wasn't quite as good as Red Dog, I still enjoyed it and would encourage anyone with children who love dog stories to read it.
August 27, 2019
This is such a cute story. When I first read this when I was a kid, I had just gotten my own puppy (she'll be thirteen in September!) after years and years of begging, so Brad was a very relatable character. This is a great book of your kid loves wildlife and dogs!
July 17, 2018
I remember reading this book when I was younger so when I saw it for sale I just had to buy it and reread it.
October 23, 2018
Perfect for boys, ages 8-11. This author was from my area in Oklahoma, so it was interesting reading about familiar places in my town.
March 21, 2019
I am so glad Austin recommended this book. It was a tear-jerker for me. The book is filled with love, empathy, and emotion for the pets we love so dearly.
November 28, 2020
Not the best dog story
May 2, 2022
Love Bill Wallace. He is a fantastic children’s author… this novel is no exception. 💕
September 13, 2023
A childhood favorite of mine. Very sweet, and very sad.
August 28, 2025
I found this story to be absolutely adorable.
January 12, 2022
I picked this randomly off of the library's shelf. It was a cute story. I figured it would have a sad ending and it did.
Read
April 14, 2015Personal Reaction: This book was great. It is a great book about a young boy named Brad who wants a dog but instead he finds a coyote pup. It’s an awesome story that shows a coyote’s point of view on the world and a boys love for animals.
Purpose(s):
Independent reading: I think this book would be better for students to read independently, they would more than likely enjoy it more than a read aloud, or even if it was assigned to them. It is more of a pleasure read than a required read. It would be great for children in 1st-3rd grade.
Reading circles: It could also be great to sit down with a group of children and talk about how this book relates to them, or what they think about adopting a coyote as a dog instead of a domesticated animal. It would also be a great talk about the difference between wild animals and domesticated animals.
Literary Elements: Teachers could use this book to talk about theme. The theme in this book is about knowing what is best for others and knowing when to let go. Students could examine parts of the book and figure out where the best theme for the book is. Maybe they'd think the theme was different than what I thought it was.
Purpose(s):
Independent reading: I think this book would be better for students to read independently, they would more than likely enjoy it more than a read aloud, or even if it was assigned to them. It is more of a pleasure read than a required read. It would be great for children in 1st-3rd grade.
Reading circles: It could also be great to sit down with a group of children and talk about how this book relates to them, or what they think about adopting a coyote as a dog instead of a domesticated animal. It would also be a great talk about the difference between wild animals and domesticated animals.
Literary Elements: Teachers could use this book to talk about theme. The theme in this book is about knowing what is best for others and knowing when to let go. Students could examine parts of the book and figure out where the best theme for the book is. Maybe they'd think the theme was different than what I thought it was.
April 15, 2015
Personal reaction: LOVED THIS BOOK! If you are an animal lover then this is a book for you. This book is all about a young boy who was never able to have a pet but finally gets the chance to have one. This boys bond with a coyote will leave your heart melting.
Use in the classroom/Purpose:
read aloud: Im not too sure i would use this as a read aloud because i enjoyed it more as an independent read. Although I'm sure you could still use it as a read aloud for young kids.
independent read: This would be a great independent read for kids who love animals or desire to have a pet of their own someday. This could even be an assigned independent read and there could be talks about how they think the coyote is going to react to being treated like an actual dog.
literary elements: character development and theme would be good ones for this book since there can be lots of themes taken from this book. The main character also goes through character development and that is seen pretty easily throughout the book.
Use in the classroom/Purpose:
read aloud: Im not too sure i would use this as a read aloud because i enjoyed it more as an independent read. Although I'm sure you could still use it as a read aloud for young kids.
independent read: This would be a great independent read for kids who love animals or desire to have a pet of their own someday. This could even be an assigned independent read and there could be talks about how they think the coyote is going to react to being treated like an actual dog.
literary elements: character development and theme would be good ones for this book since there can be lots of themes taken from this book. The main character also goes through character development and that is seen pretty easily throughout the book.
April 12, 2015
Personal reaction:
I really enjoyed reading it, and I like that Bard helped the little coyote and provided safe place to live in. I like how Brad’s friend helped him to take care of the coyote.
Read aloud to second grade children to make them learning about there are some pets are okay to have them in the house while other kinds are not okay to have them like lion and Coyote.
Independent reading:
Children from fourth to eight grades could read this book by themselves. Children will learn that they should not hide anything from their parents and be honest with them. They should not put themselves and their family in trouble like what happened to Brad’s sister when she put the food for Scooter the coyote and bite her hands. Also, they will learn that not all animals could live with humans.
The story plot was good, and it grabs the reader’s attention. The language is good and the author describes each detail very well.
I really enjoyed reading it, and I like that Bard helped the little coyote and provided safe place to live in. I like how Brad’s friend helped him to take care of the coyote.
Read aloud to second grade children to make them learning about there are some pets are okay to have them in the house while other kinds are not okay to have them like lion and Coyote.
Independent reading:
Children from fourth to eight grades could read this book by themselves. Children will learn that they should not hide anything from their parents and be honest with them. They should not put themselves and their family in trouble like what happened to Brad’s sister when she put the food for Scooter the coyote and bite her hands. Also, they will learn that not all animals could live with humans.
The story plot was good, and it grabs the reader’s attention. The language is good and the author describes each detail very well.
April 14, 2015
•Personal Reaction: I loved this book. I could really relate to this book because I too want a dog. It is a great book about a young boy named Brad who wants a dog but ends up finding a coyote pup. Once he rescues this coyote Brad has to tame the coyote before his parents find out there is a coyote in their barn. It’s a wonderful story that shows a coyote’s point of view on the world.
•Purpose(s):
o Independent reading: I think this book would be better for students to read independently. I think students would find it more enjoyable if they read it on their own. It is a great book for 1st through 3rd graders.
•Literary Elements: This book would be a good book to talk about setting. The setting in this book is very important to the story. Teachers could also talk about theme. In this book it is about knowing what is best for others and knowing when to let go. Students could come up with evidence in the book to support the theme.
•Purpose(s):
o Independent reading: I think this book would be better for students to read independently. I think students would find it more enjoyable if they read it on their own. It is a great book for 1st through 3rd graders.
•Literary Elements: This book would be a good book to talk about setting. The setting in this book is very important to the story. Teachers could also talk about theme. In this book it is about knowing what is best for others and knowing when to let go. Students could come up with evidence in the book to support the theme.
June 8, 2014
Coyote autumn was a awesome read and I really enjoyed it. The storyline itself was perfectly put together. It was really something that I could relate to. Brad who is the main character highly resembles a middle school student that enjoys the outdoors and adventures. The part of the story where brad ends up getting the coyote and naming him scooter was pretty cool. The story from this point got even more interesting when his parents ended up finding out and brad had to take the coyote someplace else. When brad takes scooter the coyote to the state park where scooter will be able to run free was really sad. But at the same time you could feel the happiness in brad that he knew that scooter was in a place where he could run free and be the wild animal he really is. This book was really good and I would defiantly recommend it to others.
September 9, 2009
Bill Wallace has been and always will be a staple in any Oklahoma teacher's library, especially in the Middle school/Junior High level. His books seem directed towards boys, but girls could benefit from the ruggedness of the outdoors that Mr. Wallace describes so well. Any of his books could be recommended to students from late elementary and up to high school.
"Coyote Autumn" is a story about a boy who finds an orphaned coyote and his struggles and joys as the pup grows up. On a personal note, this story brought back memories of going "coyote hunting" with my grandfather when I was a little girl. Exactly as it was described in the book, he would let the dogs out when he spotted a coyote out on a ridge and boy could those greyhounds run!
"Coyote Autumn" is a story about a boy who finds an orphaned coyote and his struggles and joys as the pup grows up. On a personal note, this story brought back memories of going "coyote hunting" with my grandfather when I was a little girl. Exactly as it was described in the book, he would let the dogs out when he spotted a coyote out on a ridge and boy could those greyhounds run!
April 14, 2015
Personal reaction: This was a cute story about a boy who moves and finds fun and adventure in a place he thought was going to be boring. I liked his heart in caring for a new pet that he even keeps a secret from his parents to protect him. It is a story about finding friendship in unlikely places.
Purposes: This story could be read aloud for enjoyment but probably would be better enjoyed as an independent reading book. I think it would be an excellent story to do literature circles with as there are many elements that can be discussed among students. You could use parts of the story as readers theater activities as well.
Other: I think this story can reach to both boys and girls as everyone has a desire to love and both genders love pets.
Purposes: This story could be read aloud for enjoyment but probably would be better enjoyed as an independent reading book. I think it would be an excellent story to do literature circles with as there are many elements that can be discussed among students. You could use parts of the story as readers theater activities as well.
Other: I think this story can reach to both boys and girls as everyone has a desire to love and both genders love pets.
May 6, 2016
I though that Coyote autumn was a very good book. it was about a boy and his friends that were very close to each other and they went into the woods and found a liter of coyotes and Brad the main character wanted a dog. His parents wouldn't let him get a dog so he thought this would be a great idea to take a pup and raise it like a dog! He thought his parents would be very mad that he took the pup so he hid the coyote outside on the back side of the garage in a pen. I thought this was very cool because i always thought that it would be very cool to raise a coyote. I also thought it was kind of neat that there were coyote hunters that drove down the road with there dogs in the back.I coyote hunt with dogs too. i thought that was very cool also. this was a good book over all.
August 24, 2016
Brad has always wanted a dog, so when he catches the little coyote, he decides to keep it. He couldn't have a dog when his family lived in a Chicago apartment, but now that they've moved to rural Oklahoma anything seems possible. Even rescuing an orphaned coyote pup...and keeping it a secret from his parents. With his friend Nolan's help, Brad is determined to tame Scooter, train him, play with him, and hide him in an old dog pen behind the barn. It almost works...until Mom and Dad discover his secret -- and Scooter steals their hearts and gives them all a coyote's-eye view of what it's like to live in the dangerous world of men.
June 24, 2010
Great book for young animal lovers. It's about a boy (with a true Oklahoman accent) who wants to tame a coyote pup that came from the wild. Everything sure adds up to be a big mess of trouble… but getting into trouble is always fun, isn't it? Especially if you have a little coyote that is your pet.
I'd recommend "Coyote Autumn" for both boys & girls, ages 10-14. It's not a fantastically-remarkable book, but it was worthwhile to read it.
I'd recommend "Coyote Autumn" for both boys & girls, ages 10-14. It's not a fantastically-remarkable book, but it was worthwhile to read it.
March 6, 2013
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This book is about a boy named brad how lived in Chicago and moved to oklahoma he wanted a dog really bad but he could not get a dog and then he finds a coyote and his parent don't know about it util on day..............dahn.............dahn.............dahnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn....do you think he get to keep it or not. read this book to find out. Coyote Atumn
October 10, 2011
I read this book to my kids and we all really enjoyed it. The story was entertaining enough to hold our attention, but we also learned from it. We learned about how coyotes are different from dogs, about how coyotes are hunted, about how animals are prepared to be released into the wild. I would read more books by this author, or get them for my kids.
April 15, 2015
Personal Reaction: I really liked this book. It was a very sweet story that many children who desire having a pet or know the love of having a pet can relate to.
Use in the classroom:This would be a great book for students to read independently around 4th grade. Lessons relating to family, friendship, or animals would be great to tie this book in with.
Use in the classroom:This would be a great book for students to read independently around 4th grade. Lessons relating to family, friendship, or animals would be great to tie this book in with.
October 23, 2008
This is a book about a boy named Brad who tries to raise a baby coyote but he could never completely tame the coyote.
What I learned from this book: It would be hard to raise a coyote. Coyotes aren't like dogs.
What I learned from this book: It would be hard to raise a coyote. Coyotes aren't like dogs.
October 23, 2010
I really enjoyed the first Bill Wallace book I read (Red Dog) but this was on a different plane. I was throughly impressed with the writing and plot. I certainly would reccomend this to any young person, particularly those interested in nature or dogs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews