________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 3 . . . . October 6, 2000

cover Emma and the Coyote.

Margriet Ruurs. Illustrated by Barbara Spurll.
Toronto, ON: Stoddart Kids, 1999.
22 pp., cloth, $18.95.
ISBN 0-7737-3140-7.

Subject Headings:
Chickens-Fiction.
Coyote-Fiction.

Kindergarten - grade 3 / Ages 5 - 8.

Review by Catherine Hoyt.

*** /4

excerpt:

The following afternoon, Emma and the other chickens were looking for good things to eat in the pig pen. Emma wrestled with worms and picked at potato peels. She was just gobbling up some corn when she heard a loud commotion.

The pigs snorted. The rooster crowed. The chickens clucked after him as he darted inside the coop.

But not Emma.

image Some chickens ARE smarter than coyotes! Emma's back, and she saves the day and captures the coyote who threatens the barnyard. While the rest of the barnyard animals cower in fear, Emma warns the farmer of the coyote's arrival three times before she, quite by accident, helps to trap the coyote. The great delight of this book is Barbara Spurll's vibrant, colourful pictures which have lots of farmyard detail. The facial expressions of the animals are hilarious. With the rooster's panicked expression and Emma's stern no nonsense look, children will giggling in no time. Most illustrations are a full double page to support the telling of Emma's heroics. Children will delight in seeing just the swish of the coyote's tail in many of the pictures. A recommended purchase for all public and children's libraries. An amusing read aloud choice for preschool storytimes and a sure-fire hit with independent readers.

Recommended.

Catherine Hoyt is the Curator of the Eileen Wallace Children's Literature Collection at the University of New Brunswick.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - October 6, 2000.

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