Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale

I ordered this book as a gift for a dear friend whose children have grown up with the reality of a frequently absent parent. My hope was that it would help to open up discussion and understanding. I have just received the following note from my friend: "...I just read to the little ones the book you gave them. It is so nice to see someone highlighting the problems that so many face. I know over the years we have struggled with the breaking up of our family so half of us can go "al Norte" to work, even on an airplane it is so hard to leave behind the ones not lucky enough to have visas. The kids were asking so many questions. We, as a family talk a lot about immigration issues and they know about it first hand because of our years of trying to "get Papa's papers". The train ride in the book touched them because they talk so much about the men and women asking for money or food when we cross the train tracks. I loved the explanation at the end. My little girl really started putting it together at that point and asking more profound questions. I am sure it will be in the "every night" pile. Thanks again for this special book."

The artwork is outstanding, and the mix of Spanish words makes it fun for bi-lingual children and educational for all. However, the audience matters. The story line is simple enough to understand---on the surface a suspenseful animal adventure---but just under the surface it deals with a serious & heartbreaking subject. It almost misses the point if the comparison is not made with the human plight of illegal migrants (with possible political implications in a classroom setting). I felt my 1st grade class would not be the appropriate place to read it. For children dealing with migrant issues, it should resonate and provoke sympathy.

I appreciated how the animals were used to tell of a scary and true story. This can lead into a bigger class group discussion so children can understand that there atwo sides to every story and that if immigration were easier for Mexicans to come and go in the U.S. there would be less separation of families and that Mexicans just want to earn a living and go back home to their families for the most part. Not all Mexicans are part of Cartel but a lot of them are used by the Cartel and that can be a scary thing for young children to have to go through with their families. This book touches on the subject in a very courteous and gentle manner that can be understood by most students/children. A touch subject to be confronted in an appropriate manner.

This is a great children's book. The student's I read it to at school loved the animal characters and got really excited to read about mole and other foods they love. These were younger students so I had to explicitly tell them what "el norte" meant, but once I told them I could see the wheels turning in their heads. I appreciate the author's ability to weave immigration problems into a children's book without scaring kids but while at the same time bringing important topics to light.

I love that this story can bring such a real and current topic to children. It's written in a way that's not menacing but does not hide the truth of what many people face crossing the Mexican - U. S. border.

What a great story that delivers a powerful message in an easy to understand manner. My second graders truly enjoyed the storyline and were able to discuss Pancho Rabbit's journey and the perils he encounters. Although we didn't go too in-depth regarding the social causes and implications of our current immigration crisis, this would be a great book to use as a means to initiate necessary discussions for young children about migrant's struggles to make the treacherous journey 'al Norte,' human traffickers, and family separation. Short glossary and afterword are included to provide some insight surrounding this issue. We enjoyed this story with tamales and arroz! One of my favorite days in the classroom. Thank you!!

This is the second Duncan Tonatiuh book I’ve read. I haven’t been disappointed yet. The stories seamlessly mix together Mexican and American cultures that is accessible to kids. I’m a proponent of own voices books and this is definitely one to add to your collection.

An honorary Pura Belpré Award winner and after reading it I can definitely see why. Love the child friendly way of telling a story about migration. It can help younger children to understand the motives and struggles families that migrate. Definitely a conversation starter. Read with my nine year old and we both really enjoyed it. Highly recommend this book.

Stunnnigly beautiful illustrations and an important message of understanding for the plight of mexican migrants and the hardships they face. Great book for children and an excellent introduction to the subject of immigration. Well needed to help the next generation develop compassion and empathy. Also glossary at the back with translations of spanish words used throughout the book.

My 4.5 year old loves the story and I love that it's a soft entry point to begin discussions about migrant and refugee issues. The only reason that I didn't give the book 5 stars is because it primarily focuses on economic migration and not the refugee crisis of people on the move from Mexico and Central America to the US. In discussions after reading the book I was able to gently introduce some of the many reasons why people head to El Norte aside from economic pressures. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

An absolute fabulous book for students!!! Great story and pictures!