Isabel and the Hungry Coyote

"Isabel and the Hungry Coyote" is basically a retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood but set in a southwestern desert or Mexican desert scene. The unique thing about the book is the gradual mixing of Latin American Spanish words into the story. Through a simple reading of the story a child can learn a handful of Spanish words by their context within the story. Once a Spanish word is introduced it is continued throughout the remainder of the book. "Isabel and the Hungry Coyote" is a wonderful read and a recommended book for introducing children to the Latin American Spanish language.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? This time, our little girl is in the Chihuahua Desert in the American Southwest & she's carrying tamales & chili sauce, & the hungry villain is the Trickster Coyote. This time the story is in English with Spanish words dotted about like the flores in Isabel's desert. We learn about her caperuza roja, & how to say such ordinary things as "Hello". Zesty illustrations by Esther Szegedy -- energetic & colorful. Rebeccasreads highly recommends ISABEL AND THE HUNGRY COYOTE or ISABEL Y EL COYOTE HAMBRIENTO as a story which will entrance you & your children. Great fun!

This book offers a refreshing new twist to the classic Red Riding Hood story. My children enjoyed learning fun Spanish terms. Also, it can help create dialogue for multicultural conversations.

This captivating tale will satisfy your hunger for an authentic adaptation of a classic story. Set in the Chihuahuan Desert, it reveals the beauty of the land, language, and life forms that are indigenous to the Southwest. The entertaining dialogue and rich descriptions make it a perfect choice for Reader's Theater.

ISABEL AND THE HUNGRY COYOTE (Isabel y el coyote hambriento) by Keith Polette, illustrated by Esther Szegedy. Raven Tree Press, 200 S. Washington - Suite 306, Green Bay, WI 54301; www.raventreepress.com; [email protected]. 2004. 32 pp. $16.95 hardcover, ISBN 0-9724973-0-7. English/Spanish glossary. The children's tale of Little Red Riding Hood is given a Hispanic twist, with Isabel as Red Riding Hood complete with a red hood. Basic Spanish words and phrases are inserted into a text which is about ninety percent English. "Picking flores [flowers], the girl in the red hood sang softly." "This caperuza roja [red hood] keeps the sun from my face," Isabel tells the coyote. The Spanish terms are defined in the glossary at the end of the tale. In keeping with its Hispanic twist, Isabel escapes from the malevolent coyote by pouring the basket of tamales and chile sauce she is carrying to her grandmother's into his mouth as he opens it wide to seize her. As the coyote runs away yelling, "Fuego! Fuego! [Fire! Fire!]," Isabel escapes to her grandmother's, where the two make more tamales.