In his introduction to Coyote &, Joe Hayes says, "Many American Indian stories are sacred. They are part of the religion of the people who tell them, and so belong to just one tribe or sometimes just a part of the tribe. Sometimes Coyote plays a role in these religious stories. But the coyote stories in this collection are different. They are told for entertainment. They are especially loved by children, who delight in Coyote's foolish antics."