The Coyote Under the Table / El coyote debajo de la mesa: Folk Tales Told in Spanish and English (English and Spanish Edition)

I have always been big on giving books as gifts, especially to children. I sponsor a child in Peru through World Vision. We are limited to items that will fit in 6"x9" envelope. I was having a really hard time finding a book that was in Spanish, small enough and would be relatable to an underprivileged child in a small town in Peru! None of my childhood favorites seemed appropriate. This book seemed perfect! I loved that I could read the stories first as well, since it's in English and Spanish. These are fun, somewhat moral stories not focusing heavily on material goods or other items my child might not be familiar with. Yes, the stories come from more Mexican based folk tales, but anyone should be able to relate and enjoy!! Finally, there are truly delightful illustrations that I'm sure will be enjoyed! If this is the hit I hope I'll likely be buying more of the series!

I love Joe Hayes books. Before I retired from teaching, I always read them to my students of all ages, and they were very well received!

I bought this book ( and its companion The Day it snowed Tortillas) to share with my sponsor child in Honduras, because it is written in both English and Spanish. He will have a hard copy and I have a Kindle copy. I wound up also buying a hard copy for my granddaughter in the US and we read it together over Skype. The stories are relatively short but full of fun and twists.

The Coyote Under the Table is a side-by-side book, with the Spanish version on one side and the English version on the other. This arrangement facilitates reading, since the reader does not have to stop and look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary. Besides, the folk tales are lively and engaging, sweeping the reader up into the story.

Joe Hayes has been telling and writing his stories for many years. If you don't have at least one of his books, you are missing a most fun experience. The title story of this volume is hilarious and is just one of the many that will make you want to buy some of his other books. Good reading!

Absolutely love these. Found my childhood all over again

I read the tales in Spanish first, then in English. The translations were very good but some of the Spanish original words made the stories even funnier. And of course the wise, simple, person comes out the victor, with a little help from magical sources.

Wonderful stories. Some are a little strong in the language for little kids, but most are really captivating and worth retelling. Love the side-by-side style so you can catch some of the idioms and figurative language that are more common in one language than the other. I prefer The Day It Snowed Tortillas (by Joe Hayes)...but you should buy both!

This will make a great gift for my Honduran foster child. He can enjoy it in Spanish and supplement his learning English at the same time.