There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea

Written by Jennifer Ward

Illustrated by Steve Gray

Scholastic Inc. New York, 2007

32pages

Picture book

 

 

                         This book got my attention because I noticed the title is very similar to There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Come to find out this book is very much like it except there is a coyote swallowing crazy things instead of the old lady. He starts out eating a fly in the beginning and by the end of the story he is swallowing the moon. The book is set in the southwestern part of the country which is evident through the illustrations. Each paragraph ends with "Yippee-o-ki-yee!'' instead of "I don't know why she swallowed the fly, perhaps she'll die!"

                         

The illustrations look very rustic and very much like the southwest. Steve Gray did a wonderful job with the characters expressions when they were in the coyotes belly after being eaten. He uses a lot of browns, tans, oranges, yellows, and greens to capture that southwestern feel.

                         This book could be used for a writing activity where the students have to write a sentence about one thing the coyote ate and his reason for eating it. The teacher could also have  separate cards with each item or animal the coyote ate and have the students put them in order according to how the coyote ate them. I like this book because it puts a twist on the "old lady who swallowed a fly" story. This book has no awards.