Coyote's Soundbite: A Poem for Our Planet

by John Agard, Piet Grobler (Illustrator)

Overview

A rip-roaring poem about protecting our planet, told through the eyes of Coyote the trickster.

Excitement spreads like wildfire through the jungle. Earth-goddesses are planning a conference! From Australia to Antarctica, Amazon to Africa, goddesses will debate the burning environmental issues of our times . . . and bushy-tailed, smooth-talking Coyote wants in on the action. Can this infamous trickster come up with a plan to infiltrate the conference and leave a lasting legacy for our planet?

“Quirky and inventive. The writing is beautiful. The illustrations truly shine and will be enjoyed by all. An aesthetically pleasing and stimulating work of art”—ALA Booklist

“Agard’s words and Grobler’s illustrations harmoniously deliver an engaging and timely tale. Humans have indeed become blind to the fragile beauty of the Earth. This story, packed full of playful characters that fly and dance around the page as creation myths are told, asks young readers to take a different view and to love the world around them”—Andy Robert Davies, children's illustrator

“The more I read this book the more I wanted to read it again because every time I looked at it again I noticed a new drawing or found something to use in my own writing. This is an important story to tell because lots of bad things are happening to our world currently and it reminds us of what we need to do to help our planet”—Lottie Kid Reviewer, Books Up North

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913747619
Publisher:	Lantana Publishing
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	32 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 9 Years

About the Author

John Agard is a poet, performer, and anthologist. Born in Guyana, he moved to Britain in 1977. John was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry and lives in Lewes.
Piet Grobler is a world-renowned South African illustrator of over 80 books. He has won numerous national and international prizes including the Octogone de Chine, the Primo Alpi Apuane, and Tiene Holloway Medal.

Editorial Reviews

"Grobler's whimsical illustrations, with captivatingly vibrant colors and movement, are the star of this book, truly bringing to life the nature goddesses and their animal compatriots, from the cunning Coyote to numerous other members of the flora and fauna kingdoms. . . . An aesthetically pleasing and stimulating work of art."— Booklist

From the Publisher

2021-02-09
Coyote attends a conference of the earth goddesses in drag and contributes a great idea.

The six earth goddesses “from far-flung corners of the planet” plan a conference, for female creatures only, to discuss “whether humans are blind / or have simply lost their mind.” The ethnically diverse earth goddesses watch over every happening on Earth, down to “a tiny seed waking in a cradle of darkness.” But the earth goddesses themselves have never been seen. Coyote decides to wear his wife’s dress to attend the historic event. Each earth goddess gives a short speech about her contributions to life on the planet and her disappointment in humanity’s treatment of it. When they invite questions, a long silence ensues, and Coyote decides to offer a suggestion: the titular sound bite to get their message across to humans. His suggestion is gladly accepted. When Coyote gets home, he finds his wife dressed in his own suit and discovers she, too, has been out making suggestions at a conference not intended for her gender. Agard’s rhythmic verse reads like a classic fable, with intriguing characters and an interesting premise. The cross-dressing coyotes are an unfortunate diversion from the otherwise-engaging story; the fact that the only male in attendance comes up with the solution reduces the empowering message despite the ironic turn at the end of the tale. Grobler’s busy, characteristically scribbly illustrations add interest to each spread.

Very nearly successful. (Picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews