"Lord of the Animals" by Fioana French

The book draws from a Miwok Indian Creation Myth and obviously identifies with the myth genre in literature. The illustrations are very stylized and appealing, however the illustrator's name is unmentioned. The coyote animal leads a discussion about the necessary characteristics of one to be called "the Lord of the Animals". The following animals: bear, deer, eagle, ram, beaver and mountain lion contribute characteristics from themselves. The coyote recognizes that the animals want their own group to rule over all others. The coyote requests that all of them sculpt their decision from mud. The animals began to sculpt, however fell asleep before they finished. The coyote sculpted and finished his piece throughout the night. When the coyote awoke, a human man stood near him to rule over all animals. The coyote's character was not as egotistical as the other animals' characters. The book was written for 1st to 3rd graders, because of certain vocabulary. I think the book was well written and repetitive enough to bring a huge concept like creation down to an early childhood level.