 | 1. | A Coyote's In The House Leonard, Elmore
HarperCollins 1st Edition 2004 Hardcover, DJ, 160 pages. New copy
Anthropomorphism in fiction and film is often derided as a cheap trick - but not when Elmore Leonard is writing the dialogue. Leonard's first children's book ( for older children and adults) begins with a beguiling premise: hip coyote Antwan, leader of his pack in the Hollywood Hills, is foraging for garbage when he makes the acquaintance of German shepherd Buddy, a retired film star. Buddy is bored and has decided he'd like the freedom of the coyote's life in the wild, while Antwan, who quickly develops a taste for peanut-butter cookies, is interested in getting to know Miss Betty, a prizewinning poodle who lives with Buddy's family. Antwan successfully passes as a dog, but Buddy resents being displaced as the canine star of the family, prompting Antwan and Miss Betty to hatch a plan in which the German shepherd will be returned to the limelight. The story is good fun, but the real pleasure here, as in Leonard's adult novels, lies in listening to the characters banter with one another. Kids won't get all the Hollywood jokes or pick up the references to Leonard's Get Shorty, but they will respond instantly to the way Antwan and his pals work the humans to their advantage.
A great read for all ages!
Price: 8.00 CDN |
