Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies

by HB

In a whimsical retelling of a Native American folktale from the Southwest, Coyote the trickster has the tables turned on him when he is bamboozled by a swarm of mischievous butterflies. Jr Lib Guild.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Folklore, Humor, Childrens

28 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Angel Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a good book and i think that people should read it if they want to

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Picked this up for free on kindle.

This is a pretty good retelling of a Tewa tale. Taylor also directs the reader to other versions of the story.

[Makayla Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies by Harriet Peck Taylor. My favorite part of this books was the beautiful illustrations. I think these illustrations will really help young kids become interested in the story. These illustrations could also help kids who are behind on their reading skills to be able to understand the story through the pictures. I also liked how this story introduced the Native American culture and exposed students to different perspectives.
Some things I didn't like about this story was that it felt like there was no moral in the story. I understood that the Coyote kept going down to the river to gather salt and the butterflies kept bringing the coyote back to his house. However, I never understood the moral of the story.
A question that I would ask about this story would be about the moral of the story. I believe the first two times the butterflies took the Coyote back to his house because he was sleeping without gathering the salt. The third time the Coyote gathered the salt and the butterflies took him home. I think the moral of the story could be that although you may be tired from the journey you still need to accomplish the goal of journey.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself is okay, and if it wasn't claiming to be "based on a Tewa Indian legend", it would be a whole lot better. I don't like when people who aren't part of a culture decide to tell a story, say that it is based on a culture's story, and then not tell the story the way the culture tells it. This doesn't really explain who Coyote is or why he's important; it is just a kind of funny and cute animals pranking another book that could have been told in a non-culturally appropriative way.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and gentle story about a tired coyote who is repeatedly pranked by butterflies.
The author's illustrations are just beautiful.





The story is based on a legend from the Tewa tribe.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting folk tale with nice pictures. I might not be very smart or maybe I am too smart over thinking it, but what is the point of the story...that butterflies like to play tricks and that is why they fly and flutter around or is it just a story to entertain around the fire?? Don't know...

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyote is tricked by some butterflies who laugh so hard about their joke that they cannot fly straight. www.hcpl.net

This is a fun book that children enjoy.

[kaylee :)]

This book is a good story for all ages, it's based on a fable from the Tew Tribe. It has a teaching theme and I enjoyed reading this fairy tale.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Coyote's wife dispatches him to the nearby salt lake to fetch salt in this picture book retelling of a Tewa Pueblo folktale, that lazy fellow decides to take a nap in the shade of a large cactus, only to be transported home in his sleep by some mischievous butterflies. This process is repeated a number of times, leading Coyote's wife to become very frustrated indeed. Eventually our hero manages to stay awake long enough to gather the salt, before falling asleep and being transported home again. Happy with the salt, Coyote's wife cooks a feast and all their animal friends attend, including the laughing butterflies...

A pourquoi story explaining why butterflies flitter around when flying—it is because they are laughing—the tale in Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies can also be found in Elise Clews Parsons' 1926 collection, Tewa Tales , where it is known as Coyote Goes for Salt; and in Joe Hayes' 1988 A Heart Full of Turquoise: Pueblo Indian Tales , where it is known as The Butterflies Trick Coyote. I found the story itself, as retold by author/illustrator Harriet Peck Taylor, quite amusing, but what elevated this picture book for me was the artwork, created using a cotton batik process. The color palette is just lovely, the folk style simple but appealing. This is the fourth of Taylor's books I have read, but I will certainly seek out more! Recommended to young folklore lovers, particularly those who enjoy stories about how the animals and the world came to be the way they are.

[Karen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love coyote stories and I love this author/ illustrator. This story is so sweet with the butterflies playing the tricks on coyote this time. Trying to set up a read aloud for the museum I volunteer at this will be perfect.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated tale of Coyote. My son really enjoyed it.

[Susan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyote is usually a trickster, but in this one he is the one tricked. Follow the story as we see why butterflies fly crooked.

[J.D. Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful retelling of a Tewa/Pueblo folktale about Coyote and how some butterflies tricked him. The illustrations are very nice, with a Southwestern feel.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why oh why is this out of print?!

[Barbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another trickster story. We have fun reading this aloud.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies by Harriet Peck Taylor (1995)