A West African story about the much-loved trickster, Anansi, retold and reimagined for a new generation by award-winning author Taiye Selasi
"Allow me to introduce myself." But he needed no introduction. "Anansi the spider!" said Anansi the boy. "The tales were true!" "Traditional tales are always true," the spider answered, laughing. "Nothing lasts so long as truth, nor travels quite so far."
Award-winning author of Ghana Must Go, Taiye Selasi, reimagines the story of Anansi, the much-loved trickster, for a new generation. Kweku has grown up hearing stories about the mischievous spider Anansi. He is given the nickname Anansi by his father because of his similarly cheeky ways. On a holiday to visit his beloved Grandma in Ghana, Anansi the spider and Anansi the boy meet, and discover a magical pot that can be filled with whatever they want. Anansi fills it again and again with his favorite red-red stew, and eats so much that he feels sick. Will he learn to share this wonderful gift?
This charming retelling of a West African story teaches readers about the dangers of greed, and the importance of being kind. Tinuke Fagborun's colorful illustrations bring the magic and wonder of the tale to life. When you've finished sharing the story, you can also find out more about the origins of Anansi folktales. This is a beautiful storybook that little ones will treasure forever. ---from the publisher
32 pages 978-0744049909 Ages 4-7
Keywords: trickster tale, African, African folktale, West African, spider, greed, kindness, SEL Social Emotional Learning, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, diversity, diverse books
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Meet the author:
Taiye Selasi is a British-American writer and photographer. Born in London, UK, raised in Massachusetts, of Ghanaian and Nigerian descent, and having lived in several parts of Europe, she describes herself during her TED Talk as being “local” to many parts of the world. Taiye is the author of NAACP Image Award nominated Ghana Must Go (Penguin 2013), where her writing was described as having a “glittering poetic command, a sense of daring, and a deep emotional investment in the lives and transformations of her characters.” She holds a BA in American Studies from Yale University and a masters in International Relations from Oxford University. This is her first children’s book.
