"The landscapes and lore of the desert are captured in this traditional Hispanic fable. . . Hayes includes an author's note about his sources, while Leer successfully combines the colors of the southwest with the caricatured figures who piquantly inhabit the tale. An entertaining marriage of pictures and words." -- Kirkus Reviews
"The exaggerated facial expressions flatter the hyperbolic story line while also helping to clarify for children the moral choices found in this deftly told tale." -- Publishers Weekly
"The attractive paintings do a nice job of re-creating the Old Southwest, featuring desert colors and flora, fauna, and architecture of the region. The art also helps kids visualize just how a tortilla becomes an eating utensil." -- Booklist
"Leer's realistic paintings, rendered in pastels, display a southern Arizona desertscape. The faces of the three main characters are especially vivid in their display of emotion." -- School Library Journal
Land of Enchantment Book Award Winner - New Mexico Library Association
Tejas Star Reading List - Texas Library Association (TLA)
