Himler's illustrations are a dreamy watercolor in which things appear as out of a mist. The effects of the moonlight are apparent on every page and there is a dreamlike atmosphere in both the words and the pictures. Things to Notice and Talk About Notice the point at which the pictures lose their border as the boy enters the desert world of the coyotes. Notice the vestiges of the world he is leaving. The story is told in the second person.
Ranchers call coyotes, prairie dogs, wolves, wild horses and burros, pests.
Activities Find out all you can about coyotes. Imitate coyote cries and those of the other animals in the book. Some appear to be of our Southwest and others seem to be South American. Look at the Native American mythology about coyotes as tricksters , especially those of the Navaho. The boy calls them by their ancient name Coyotl.