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4.04 of 5 stars
What's a little lamb to do about a fierce coyote that wants to eat her? Why, trick him, of course...and and trick him again...and trick him one mor... read full description

reviews

May 14, 2011
Gundula rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Borreguita and the Coyote has very cute illustrations and I like the idea that a little lamb is able to cunningly outsmart a stalking coyote (the coyote reminds me a bit of the big bad wolf, so common in European folktales and culture). What I also appreciate is that the tale appears to be somewhat of an inversion of the Native American trickster tale. In many of these tales, Coyote is a trickster, so it is somewhat amusing to read a Mexican folktale where Coyote the trickster is outsmarted. More...
3 comments like (5 people liked it)
Nov 05, 2008
Abigail rated it: 3 of 5 stars
A fluffy little lamb named Borreguita outwits a hungry coyote many times in this charming trickster tale from the Mexican town of Ayutla. Young readers will appreciate the humorous role reversal here, in which the coyote - often a trickster figure himself in folklore - is fooled time and again by the seemingly innocent Borreguita.

Verna Aaredma, perhaps best known for her adaptations of African folklore, here turns her attention to Mexico, with happy results. Petra Mather's bright ill More...
0 comments like (5 people liked it)
Aug 12, 2010
Kathryn rated it: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 STARS. I was hoping for more from this book, especially since I love some of the author's other work (Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: A Nandi Tale) so this was a little lackluster in comparison. But, I do really enjoy books that show the underdog (sheep) outsmarting the big bad villain (in this case, the coyote) with intelligence. I wasn't a big a fan of the ending; I would have preferred if Bourreguita kept using her wiles rather than resorting to physical attack. And, of course, poo More...
5 comments like (4 people liked it)
Aug 06, 2010
Ronyell rated it: 5 of 5 stars
When I first heard this story on an episode of “Reading Rainbow,” I was immediately impressed with this story! “Borreguita and the Coyote” is a Mexican folktale retold by master storyteller Verna Aardema along with illustrations by Petra Mathers and it is about how a young lamb named Borreguita manages to outwit a hungry coyote in many attempts. “Borreguita and the Coyote” is a brilliant folktale about cunning that children will enjoy for many years!

Verna Aardema has done an excell More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Oct 13, 2010
N_maryellen rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
Aug 05, 2010
Lisa rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Borreguita is a little ewe lamb who fools a coyote out of eating her in this trickster tale.

The story and illustrations both are quite amusing. The lamb getting the coyote to hold up the mountain was really funny, as were some of the other tricks played.

This is a tale from Ayutla, Mexico, and there is a very short glossary of Spanish words (not really necessary to enjoy the story but a nice touch) in the front of the book.

I didn’t quite buy the ending though More...
7 comments like (4 people liked it)
Feb 15, 2010
Ch_robyn rated it: 3 of 5 stars
In a departure from her typical African tales, Verna Aardema retells this traditional Mexican trickster tale in which a borreguita (little sheep) outsmarts the all-powerful coyote. From the beginning, the reader can assume Borreguita will get the better of Coyote, we just never know how. The story depicts creative ways that keeps the reader amused. Although the ending is predictable, Borreguita’s tricks are anything but; for instance, convincing coyote to dive in after a wheel of cheese in t More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Aug 27, 2010
Kay rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Oh, this one's ending made me chuckle! I enjoyed how the little lamb used her wit to defeat the coyote. It made me think of an adult crime/mystery writer who points out through her characters that the cops don't catch the bad guys because the cops are so smart, but instead, because the bad guys tend to be stupid. I admit I was nervous though, about whether the little lamb's trickery would do her in. But no - brain prevailed over brawn.

I found that the illustrations fit the story v More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Aug 27, 2010
Crystal rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Borreguita and the Coyote was a enjoyable folktale. I liked that it started off with a glossary. The illustrations were entertaining. There were some folk art pictures in the front and back of the book that I found myself staring at over and over trying to figure out what those colorful balls were; connected to the head of a dog, coming out from the eyes of a dog, under a sheep, and floating around the pages. I may have been too tired the times I chose to look at them. Maybe I missed something. More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Feb 15, 2011
Nancy rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 1998, Dragonfly Books
Age: 4-8
This is a cute Mexican trickster tale about a little lamb and a coyote. Borreguita means little lamb in Spanish. The coyote wants to eat him but the sly lamb fools the coyote. The hilarious text typical of Verna Aardema, is matched with the perfect illustrations by Petra Mathers. The pictures are colorful full page watercolor illustrations and you have to love the expressive coyote with his tongue hanging out and drooling. The landscape is also More...
Mar 16, 2011
David rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Petra Mathers, ia a retelling of a Mexican folk tale about a clever lamb who tricks a hungry coyote numerous times. The role reversal is fun, with the usual trickster coyote being the one who is tricked. This telling is clever, fun, and attractively illustrated.

The story is well retold by Aardema. The humor of the story is expanded by the illustrations. One quibble: while the farmer leaving Borreguita tied up alone moves the More...
Sep 09, 2009
Kay rated it: 5 of 5 stars
The book was reminding me of something about my dog and my bird when my dog wanted to eat my bird.He tries to get past me every time but he never tried to get past me ever agian.This book is so interesting because the coyote finds dinner to eat,but the lamb gets scared and says don't eat me but the coyote didn't care.The lamb ran away and the coyote went after hem but,he couldn't catch he.The coyote chased the lamb for almost an hour.
Sep 08, 2009
Yakeisha rated it: 5 of 5 stars
The lamb is trying to run away from the coyote because the coyote was trying to eat the lamb. the lamb was tricking the coyote every single time. The most favorite part is when the lamb was holding the big rock and the coyote said now iv'e got you. the lamb said don't eat me. and the coyote said why and the lamb said can you hold the rock. and the coyote was getting tird of old the rock but the lamb trick him again i bust out lauging.
Apr 12, 2011
Chenoa rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This engaging folk tale is about a little lamb and a sneaky coyote. The coyote tries to devour the lamb, but the lamb tricks him into not eating him. After the coyote figures out that the lamb is tricking him, he decides to try one more time, but fails and leaves with a toothache. Great story for those who can relate to either characters in the book.
Good read for 3rd to 5th grade
Jan 12, 2009
Susan rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This book is so fun to read. My kids love it as much as I do. You have to use a Spanish accent when you read it though, makes it sound better.
It's about a gullable coyote that keeps falling for borreguita's lines.
Mar 19, 2009
Leigh rated it: 5 of 5 stars
An amusing trickster tale, with the lamb outwitting the vulnerable coyote. The scene where the clever lamb convinces the coyote to help hold up the mountain is especially funny and the ending is satisfying.
Jul 24, 2011
Roxann rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I have always liked old tales and folklore. This tale is from Mexico. I do recall reading similar tales where a weaker animal outsmarted a bigger one. This is that type of story. Nice illustrations.
Apr 25, 2010
Christine rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book was a great multicultural mix of English of Spanish. The story revolves around a little sheep named Borreguita and all of the clever ways she is able to outsmart the hungry wolf.
Apr 26, 2011
Anna rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This was cute and I really liked the message. The pictures are quite colorful and the writing is simple enough for some of my really low sixth graders.
Sep 08, 2010
Seher rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Bilingual book, a tale from Mexico. Good for Spanish speakers. The fast coyote kept bugging the lamb, so the lamb used his intelligence to trick the coyote.
Mar 17, 2010
Emma rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Coyote has plans to eat the borreguita he finds grazing in the meadow but this little sheep doesn't think so!
Jul 14, 2009
Valerie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
for an older elementary school-age audience, although the sharp pre-school crowd did appreciate this one.
Jun 06, 2008
Janelle rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Based on a Mexican folktale. It's a story of the tactics one sometimes must try in order to survive. I think that's a tricky lesson to teach children, since we stress honesty but them see the lamb lie in order to stay alive. There's a cute part where it shows one reason why coyotes may howl at the moon.

There is a glossary at the beginning which I know is meant to be helpful but is really unnecessary since the concepts are all explained in the story.

I know that the illu More...
1 comment like (1 person liked it)
May 04, 2010
Edna rated it: 4 of 5 stars
How does a little lamb outsmart a hungry coyote over and over again?
Jan 27, 2010
Barbara rated it: 5 of 5 stars
One of my all time favorites... great for ST and bilingual ST.
Mar 22, 2011
Kathryn rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This is the retelling of a Mexican folk tale which I found out by reading the back of the book after reading the story. The little lamb, Borreguita, is so very clever and has such a great way of problem solving and the poor coyote just doesn't get it. It's a familiar story line with unique characters and it definitely made me smile.
Aug 02, 2007
It’s tough to tell who’s the underdog in this colourful folk tale full of character and cleverness: the hungry coyote or the spunky lamb. We love them both!

Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:

http://www.justonemorebook.com/2006/12/2...
Dec 16, 2009
Sequeena marked it as to-read
THis book is about a coyote and a borreguita.The coyote is trying to eat the borreguita.But thr coyote can not eat or get the borreguita.The borreguita is playing treacks on the coyote.Thecoyote got mad and the coyote was not playing.When they meet one more time the borreguita was playing.
May 22, 2011
Dolly rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This is a fun story, with a smart little ewe lamb (Borreguita) out-foxing the coyote. Our girls enjoyed the story, even though it was a little long for me to read to them at one sitting. It even has just a little bit of Spanish woven into the story, as it is set in Ayutla, Mexico.
2 comments like (1 person liked it)
Feb 13, 2011
Cheryl/Aradanryl rated it: 4 of 5 stars
a wonderful tale, I burst out laughing at the holding up of the mountain.