Fact Friday: Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson. 80 p. Scientists in the Field series. Clarion Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, August, 2024. 9780063271470. Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.

Fact Friday features Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson. This is the latest in a favorite series of mine, the Scientists in the Field series. Since the early nineties, scientists in the Chicago area have been studying coyotes' incursion into more densely populated areas. Coyotes are often looked upon with fear and considered nuisances at the least and a danger to pets and small children. Scientists at the Urban Coyote Research Project set about studying the impact that coyotes had on the urban landscape. It turns out that coyotes are supremely adaptable and have a positive impact, since they prey on smaller animals, such as rats. 

Ms. Carson describes the migration of coyotes as well as the work of tracking, trapping and examining them in fluid, easy to understand text, accompanied by full-color, well-captioned photos that will fascinate. Back matter includes a glossary, sources and an index. Highly recommend! Happy reading!

Non-Fiction Monday: Two Books about Coyotes!

Whilst scouting the shelves at my favorite public library a few weeks ago, I spied Hungry Coyote on display. I had recently read this with the kids from "Period Kahn" that I see every day so I skipped over it and looked some more. Two shelf tops over, I saw Coyote Moon and thought, "compare contrast!" So I grabbed it and Hungry Coyote and a few others and trotted back across the street to my own library. 

Hungry Coyote by Cheryl Blackford. Illustrated by Laurie Caple. unpgd. Minnesota Historical Society Press, May, 2015. 9780873519649. (Review from finished copy borrowed from public library)

My first glance at the yellow-eyed coyote made me think that I was looking at a photograph. My second, took in the city skyline. As I learned from Ann Downer's book Wild Animal Neighbors, it is not unusual for coyotes to live in urban areas. This book follows one coyote and his family throughout one year, beginning and ending in the winter. The paintings are luscious and detailed. The language is spare and rhythmic. Coyote doesn't always catch his prey, and sometimes his prey is snitched sausage from a summer picnic. Young readers understand his need to feed his growing family. A half-page of additional information concludes the volume. No additional resources are provided.

Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. unpgd. Roaring Brook Press, July, 2016. 9781626720411. (Review from finished copy borrowed from public library)

Wild Animal Neighbors and Hungry Coyote helped me appreciate the tenacity and adaptability of the coyote. Coyote Moon almost endeared me to them. This book follows a female out hunting for her family during a full-moon night. As in Hungry Coyote, the text is spare and evocative and absolutely wedded to the extraordinary illustrations. The ground-up perspective is unique and the lack of light forces the reader to lean in to peer closely in order to appreciate the incredible detail in each painting. My guys were constantly leaning in to touch the book. Just as they got used to the atmosphere, they jumped when the page turn revealed the pounce! 

This picture book can definitely be used for elementary report writing because the back matter is terrific. Suggestions for further reading and websites are also included. Make room in your collection for this one. It's a keeper.

The boys did a terrific job of comparing and contrasting these lovely volumes about coyotes.

Non-Fiction Monday: Hungry Coyote by Cheryl Blackford

Hungry Coyote by Cheryl Blackford. Illustrated by Laurie Caple. 32 p. Minnesota Historical Society Press, May, 2015. 9780873519649. (Borrowed from public library)

I must admit that the cover of this one drew me in. It was just sitting there on the "new books" shelf at my library, quietly beckoning. I thought the cover image was a photograph! It is that photorealistic - even up close. This book is pure gorgeousness from watery end-page to watery end-page. Expect lots of "oohs and ahs" and giggling when reading this account of a year in the life of a male coyote. The text is short, just a few lines on each page. The language and imager are lovely but compact and concise. 

This is a picture book for any age. Pair it with Ann Downer's Wild Animal Neighbors to introduce a science unit or use it in a language arts class to discuss a variety of literary devices. Show it to your art teachers. Readers will come away with an appreciation for this mysterious and much feared creature. This is a worthy addition to any library.