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Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale | May 7, 2014

By Duncan Tonatiuh (ABRAMS Books for Young Readers, May 2013)

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote is an ambitious story about a young rabbit who partners with a coyote to find his father who crossed over the border several years earlier in search of work. Within its short pages, Pancho Rabbit offers a glimpse of the hardships immigrants face when crossing into a country illegally. And what’s more, it does it all in fable form, with animal stand-ins, repeated phrases, and trials of three that might seem more familiar in an Aesop tale. While the choice of animal for each character makes for some interesting allegories, Tonatiuh makes sure that the animals never mollify the stark subject matter. Even as a rabbit, Pancho’s struggles feel real, and though Pancho’s family ultimately comes through their ordeal, the ending avoids an easy happily ever after.

The art serves the story well, using photos as props and to texture characters. It’s a technique that further prevents the characters from being overly cute and helps the world to feel rough and lived in. Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote is an excellent way to introduce the topic of undocumented immigration to children and prompt discussion.

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