Reviews

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh

meganrvos's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh was published in 2013. It is an intriguing book about a rabbit who leaves to go to the North and work to get money for his family. after he doesn't return, his son leaves to go find him with a coyote who claims to know the way. After a long journey, rabbit and coyote run out of food, so coyote tries to eat rabbit when some special people show up. 
I really enjoyed this one! It was easy to read and easy to explain immigration to younger kids. I would use this in a younger aged classroom, like preschool to 2nd grade, as a group read. It would be too hard as an independent read, because some words are in Spanish, unless you use it in a Spanish classroom setting. 
<migration> <animals> <elementary>

britneyleegwater's review

challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale was written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. This book was written in 2013 for readers between third and fifth grade. The story follows Pancho in his search for his father, who went to El Norte to the great carrot and lettuce fields for work. When Pancho's father did not return when he was supposed to, young Pancho decided he would go to the great carrot and lettuce fields to find him. On his journey, Pancho met a coyote who told Pancho that he knew of a shortcut to get to the fields faster. While both Pancho and the coyote headed north, the coyote ate all of the food Pancho brought with him for his father. When there was no food left, the coyote said he was going to eat Pancho next, but thankfully Pancho's father and some friends came to the rescue. This story would best be used in the classroom as an interactive read-aloud because it introduces events people from different cultures may experience. For example, Pancho's dad needs to go to El Norte, most likely signifying the United States, to find work so he can support his family. Another talking point example is that individuals who smuggle people from Mexico to the United States are called coyotes and are known to take advantage of others. Just those two examples alone show the various talking points that can happen within the classroom after reading this book as an interactive read-aloud. <diverse> <immigration> <cultural> 

mfrazier126's review

3.0

Pura Belpre Honor Book
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale Hardcover – May 7, 2013

Themes:
Voyages and travels
Fiction
Illegal aliens
Allegories
Coyote
Rabbits
Migrant labor

Papa Rabbit and other Papas have to leave to find work in order to provide money for their families. The family receives word that the Papas are coming home. So they throw a party. But the Papas don't return Pancho Rabbit dearly misses his Papa and decides to go find him. Coyote tricks Pancho and ends up holding him captive. Luckily Papa and his friends Rescue Pancho just in time.

I would recommend this to students with similar circumstances.

backonthealex's review

4.0

This is an allegorical tale about a young rabbit named Pancho who is eagerly awaiting the return of Papá Rabbit. Papá and two friends had gone up north to work in the fields and earn needed money when their own crops failed. But when Papá doesn't arrive home when expected, Pancho decides to go look for him. Packing Papá's favorite meal, Pancho heads out and soon meets Señor Coyote, who offers to take him safely north for the sweet and spicy mole Pancho had packed. They travel together, but when Pancho runs out of food with which to pay the coyote, he decides to roast Pancho. Luckily, Papá Rabbit saves Pancho just in time, having heard his cries. Papá Rabbit and his friends were delayed on their way home because they had been robbed of the money they had earned picking crops. This sounds like a simple story, but it clearly depicts in both words and picture the perilous journey north, the greed, ruthlessness and treachery of the coyotes guides who take advantage on desperate migrants, and thieves who prey on vulnerable migrant workers, robbing them of the wages they worked so hard for. Young readers may see this as a typical fable, but it can be brilliantly unpacked with older readers who are more aware of and have a better understanding of the border problems that face migrants, immigrants, and refugees.

farkle's review

3.0

Chronicles the hardships the crossing the border between the US and Mexico and the extremes that families must go to to provide and protect their loved ones.

maureenmccombs's review

4.0

I related to this title in several ways. The first being the food described for Papa's return party. I love Mexican food and the idea of eating mole, rice and beans and a ton of warm tortillas sounded delicious to me (text to self). The story of Pancho's father having to leave and go north for work is evident in the news almost everyday (text to world). Pancho experiences many circumstances in the book that are happening in real-world time: the building of the wall along the border, the immigrants who are swindled by coyotes (as Pancho is swindled by the Coyote in the book), the danger of the journey due to heat and lack of resources, and the need of people from Mexico and Central American countries to come to the United States to earn money to provide for their families. These experiences are recurring themes in many news stories (text to world).

This was an excellently written book. Scary and sad in a few places but a great way to start a conversation about immigration and a really useful tool to add Spanish vocabulary into a book discussion. Titlewave indicates that the interest level for this book is kindergarten to third grade with a reading level of 3.3 (fiction, easy). However, I could see a younger child reading this book and my library would catalog this book as a picture book.

This book was the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award winner for 2014 and was a 2014 Pura Belpre honor book.

_mariana_'s review

4.0

this 2013 realistic fiction novel won a Pura Belpre award and it speaks about immigration. The father traveling north for work, and the son getting the help of a cayote to help find him can signify how people can travel long nights to try to get into the united states. This book was definitely worth the read.

vasiljul000's review

5.0

This picture book is beautifully illustrated and provides a kid-friendly insight into the hardships of immigration. It outlines the fragility of making a living, the uncertainty of what's to come, and the family ties that bind the characters together, all through the eyes of Pancho Rabbit. This story is contemporary with an aged folk-lore feel. The text is simple, yet compelling, and features hints of hispanic vocabulary. A must-have for diverse literature collections!

stephb413's review

4.0

Proof that picture books are much more than lovely illustrations. This book highlights an important message for immigration and the dangers behind it with interesting analogies and metaphors. I am honestly thinking about ways of incorporating it into my MHS English classes to review literary devices while tying in current events and promoting empathy.

elephant's review

3.0

A rather harsh, allegorical story of immigrant migration due to lack of crops from bad weather, lead by an evil coyote.