First published 2007
Four-year-old Bill tumbles from his family's covered wagon during their westward journey. His eighteen siblings and parents never notice he's missing. A pack of wild coyotes finds the lost boy and raises him as their own. Bill grows up believing his name is Cropear and that he is a true coyote. The wild upbringing gives him supernatural abilities while preserving his natural goodness. When Bill finally learns he is human, he returns to face the civilized world. He uses his remarkable powers only for good, helping others and entertaining them with amazing feats. Bill's adventures transform him into the most legendary cowboy who ever lived. This Newbery Honor tale captures the spirit of American tall tales through one unforgettable character's journey from abandoned child to mythic hero.
Genres: american, adventure, americana
Vibes: emotional, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, mythic-hero
Setting: America, West
Period: 19th-Century
296 pages · Hardcover · NYR Children's Collection