Anansi Does the Impossible!: An Ashanti Tale

by Verna Aardema, Lisa Desimini (Illustrator)

Overview

Long ago, when the earth was set down and the sky was lifted up, all the folktales were owned by the Sky God. And Anansi, that cunning little spider, was determined to buy them back. The payment? A live python, one real fairy, and forty-seven stinging hornets. Not such a high price to pay for all the folktales on earth. But how will Anansi find these hard to come bgy items? It sounds impossible! There's only one way to find the help he needs — Anansi must go to his clever wife, Aso. But will she be smart enough to outwit the Sky God and get the stories back? This humorous retelling of an Ashanti tale brings Anansi together with his better half in an ingenious scheme that will delight readers of all ages!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689839337
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	11/01/2000
Series:	Aladdin Picture Books Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,001,150
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Verna Norberg Aardema Vugteveen, best known by the name Verna Aardema, was a writer of children's books.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 3Anansi the Spider is determined to buy back the stories taken from the people and kept by the Sky God. With the assistance of his clever wife, Aso, he takes the Sky God the live python, the real fairy, and the 47 stinging hornets required to regain the stories. Retold from Aardema's The Sky God Stories (Coward, 1960; o.p.), the tale rollicks along at a rhythmic merry pace, full of descriptive ideophones (sounds that express movement or emotion). The lively narrative is perfect for reading aloud, and the inclusion of Aso is a particularly nice touch. Desimini's textured collages portray the spider couple as cheeky and cherubic in their boldly patterned clothing. The extravagant, vibrant illustrations fill the pages and complement the text beautifully. The depictions of the defiant Anansi confronting the Sky God, a gigantic, disembodied head, are particularly effective. Gail Haley's A Story, A Story (Atheneum, 1970) tells the same tale, but to compare the two would be to compare apples and oranges. Both retellings have lively, evocative language, although Aardema's version may be more suited to preschool listeners, and both have compelling illustrations that extend and illuminate the narrative. Make room on the shelf for both.Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA

School Library Journal