Pancho Rabbit And The Coyote

Author and Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh 

Genre: Multicultural 

Grade Level: K-2

A young rabbit named Poncho is eagerly awaiting for the return of his father who traveled north 2 years ago to find work to earn money for his family. Papa Rabbit does not return so Poncho sets out to find him. He packs some of his dads favorite foods and heads north. On his way, he meets a coyote. The coyote offers to help Poncho in exchange for some of the food he packed. They travel together until all the food is gone and the coyote decides that he is still hungry and that he wants to eat Poncho! As he is going to start to eat him Papa Rabbit hears his cries for help and comes to the rescue. Him and his friends were attacked by a gang of crows and they took the money and gifts that they were bringing back to their families and left them stranded in the desert. Poncho knows the way back home and they all return to their families. This time Papa needs to leave to find work his family says that they will all go with him. 

The illustrations are very dark and help us feel the emotions that the characters are feeling as they journey throughout the story. There are different textures and real life pictures included within the patterns and shapes of the pictures. It gives the pictures a sort of 3-D vibe. 

I can use this in a classroom to discuss that hardships that many different cultures face. It brings to light immigration in a kid friendly way.