Coyote's wild home

Making dual picture book debuts, Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Kingsolver and daughter Lily Kingsolver, an environmental educator, dramatize perspectives from two species in a narrative that spotlights coyote and human experiences of the natural world. Alternating spreads follow Coyote Pup, "old enough for his first hunt" with his aunt, and city girl Diana on a camping excursion with her grandfather. Parallels abound: as Auntie guides Coyote Pup to new scents and glimpses of prey, Diana and Grandpa identify animal tracks; as Coyote Pup pounces unsuccessfully for a mouse, Diana reels in an empty fishhook. In naturalistic paintings layered with untextured landscapes, Mirocha (Amazing Armadillos) foregrounds Auntie and Coyote Pup spying Diana and Grandpa from a safe distance, and pictures affectionate interactions among characters of both species. Measuring people's ideals ("The balance of nature includes everything alive, even us") against the wild creatures' recognition that "their forest keeps shrinking," the creators hint at material debate around humans' responsibility to fellow beings in this compassionate dual portrait. Coyote facts conclude. Ages 6--9. (Oct.)

In this picture book from the Pulitzer Prize winner and her daughter, two youngsters embark on adventures. Three relationships subtly unfold in this captivating tale: coyotes and their world, Diana and her grandfather, and other humans and Earth's remaining wilderness. One summer afternoon, Coyote Pup's aunt takes him on his first hunt. Close by, young Diana begins her first camping trip. Diana asks about this environment, new to her; Grandpa points out the wildlife around them and discusses their role as appreciative visitors. Pages alternate between the coyotes and the humans. For both young ones, the emphasis is on their senses, especially Coyote Pup's keen nose and Diana's sharp eyes as she spots prints and scat. Grandpa tells Diana that if there are too many deer and rabbits, the forest will be overrun; coyotes help keep things in balance by hunting these herbivores. Meanwhile, Coyote Pup encounters his first prey, a vole. Coyote Pup and Diana (who goes fishing with her grandfather) both fail at their first predations, and both compensate with wild berries; their parallel family warmth also connects them. Grandpa warns Diana against overfishing: "We take what we need and no more." Backmatter offers more information about coyotes and how to help them. Richly detailed paintings provide a vivid virtual forest visit and breathtaking close-ups of the coyotes. Diana and Grandpa present white; the coyotes are gloriously real. A splendid, gentle introduction to environmental activism. (Picture book. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.