Borreguita and the Coyote

Abstract

Here is a Hispanic folktale that combines several fable motifs. Coyote keeps threatening to eat the little lamb, and she comes up each time with a solution. First she asks to let herself grow fat. Then she offers cheese instead of herself, and the cheese turns out to be in the local pond. Next she gets the wolf to help hold up the mountain which she claims to be holding up. Finally she asks the wolf to open wide so that she can be eaten in one piece. She takes a running charge and knocks him silly! Maybe the best illustration shows Borreguita pleading to be eaten whole. Both characters end up in this illustration in revealing human postures.