Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

Many of the folktales and stories we treasure started out as stories we told, only being put into books as the tradition of oral storytelling became more formalized and less routine. A perfect example of this are the Anansi stories, that started as oral traditions told in West Africa and were brought to North America by the slaves. These stories are largely about how a character (Anansi) is able to turn the tide against his oppressors through cunning and sly calculations. Often depicted as a spider, many Anansi tales have Anansi as the trickster overcoming adversity, while others have Anansi as a perpetrator of tricks that eventually backfire on him.

This month, for Black History Month, Dial-a-Story is featuring a story told by Rita Cox, "Anansi's Riding Horse". To access this story call 416-395-5400 and listen for the prompts. Select 1 for English and then 3 for the Black History story.

As well, the library has many Anansi books available for loan. The books range from the more serious renditions of the tales to those that are humourous and end up with Anansi being the unsuspecting victim of his own tricks.

In Anansi does the Impossible, by Verna Aardema, Anansi and his wife have to not only outwit the Sky God, but also outwit a python, a fairy and 47 stinging hornets in order to buy back the stories of the Ashanti people. The story is conveyed both with brilliant writing as well as vivid illustrations. This is a wonderful book for reading aloud with your child, and is more in the tradition of the cunning Anansi.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric A. Kimmel is more in the tradition of Anansi being foiled by his own trickery. In this tale, Anansi happens to trip over a strange moss-covered rock. When he says the words ,"Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock", he is knocked sensless. Anansi launches a plot to use this unusual situation to his advantage, and much hilarity ensues. Children of all ages will rejoice in this tale and join in with the repetitive language of the story.

There are many more books about Anansi to choose from, but listening to the story being told by Rita Cox would be a great place to begin your journey with Anansi and his trickster ways.