Three Clever Coyote Pups — Sharon Ritt

Fruit, prickly pear cactus, snails and mice are tempting treats a scamper across the water away from three young coyote brothers. Just as the youngest pup heads across the sparkling mountainside creek first, he encounters a scary, hissing obstacle―a Western diamondback rattlesnake. Though the snake threatens to eat him, the tiny coyote uses quick and clever thinking to trick the snake into waiting for a bigger meal. When the third clever coyote brother meets the snake as he attempts to cross the river, the rattler decides he's tired of being unfriendly. The coyotes are rewarded for their quick thinking with a delicious lunch and children learn the benefits of staying calm and using clear reasoning when encountering danger. The native creatures and the alluring Arizona mountainside setting present a vivid picture in the minds of children reading Three Clever Coyote Pups (Tres Listos Coyotitos), but the fact that the story is presented in English and Spanish in the same book makes it unique. The pups' adventure appeals to children living anywhere, and whether reading the story in English or Spanish, the combination of the vibrant language and rich illustrations transports children to the coyotes' native surroundings. It is also unique because the author is a life-long, reading teacher who is also a storyteller and singer. Sharon I. Ritt uses her expertise to structure tale that is fun and includes just enough peril to generate excitement for children ages 4 to 8.