Coyote's Wobbly Cheese
In this retelling of a traditional Mexican folktale, Rabbit tricks Coyote into mistaking the moon's reflection for cheese. Three chapters follow Coyote from a tempting promise to a surprising discovery.
Play the quiz as a gameChapter 1: A Round Promise
One evening in the Mexican countryside, Rabbit rested beside a pond. In his basket were three peeled prickly pears, sweet fruits from a cactus. Coyote arrived, rubbing his empty belly. Rabbit wanted to keep the fruit for himself. Then he noticed the full moon shining on the water.
"You're looking for supper," Rabbit said. "There is a fine round cheese in this pond. You may have it!" Coyote leaned over the bank. A yellow circle floated on the dark water. It looked delicious. "Fetch a bowl," Rabbit suggested. "You can scoop it out."
Chapter 2: A Bowl of Nothing
Coyote fetched a wooden bowl from his nearby home. He dipped it carefully into the shining circle. Ripples spread across the pond, and the circle broke into golden pieces. Coyote lifted the bowl. It held water, but not a crumb of cheese.
"Perhaps you stirred too hard," Rabbit said, hiding a smile. Coyote tried again, more slowly. The same thing happened. This time, instead of reaching for another scoop, he sat still. He waited until the ripples faded. The round shape appeared again, exactly as before.
Chapter 3: A Second Look
Coyote looked up. The moon above him matched the circle below. "That is a reflection!" he said. "The water is showing me the moon. You promised something that was never there." Rabbit's ears drooped. His joke no longer seemed clever. He opened his basket and offered Coyote two prickly pears.
Coyote took one fruit and left the other two for Rabbit. They ate beside the pond. Later, Coyote drew a picture of the moon above its watery twin. Under it he wrote a caption, words explaining his picture: "Look twice before you reach." Rabbit could see the drawing from his seat. He looked at his friend and said, "Next time, I'll offer what I really have."