Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti (An Owlet Book) (1986)

Anansi the Spider is a book from the Ashanti people of Africa. It’s a traditional tale about a spider, his six sons, and each of their special talents. The father goes on a trip but soon needs the help of his sons. The each use their unique abilities to save their father. The father finds a glowing orb and wants to reward his sons with it. Instead of choosing to give it to one son he gives it to the sky god who places it in the sky for all to see.

I found this book very interesting. It was cool to read a book from a different culture. The illustrations were also unique which I found added to the cultural experience.

The entire class could work together to create the family of spiders and their unique talents using cardboard paper and other materials. Then the class could so an in-depth study on the Ashanti people of Africa.

Summary: Anansi had six little baby spiders. The six brothers and sisters had to work hard and together to rescure their dad from being eaten by a fish. In the end they are happy to be a family that is there for one another.

Personal Reactions: I think the book was well drawn and with bright colors for the kids. It helps kids to understand that family will always do their best to one another.

Class Extension: You have the kids drawl their brothers and sisters as spiders. Then include how their spider brothers or sisters could help them with a problem.

Summary- The book is about a spider Anansi and his 6 sons. All of his sons had a specific talent. Anansi ran into some trouble on an outing so the sons set off to go find and help their father. Each son played an important role in the rescue mission. Once the father is brought home safely he found a large globe of light. He wanted to reward the son that helped rescued him by giving him the wonderful ball of light. The only problem is who he should give it to. While he decided he asked Nyame, the god of all things, to hold it. Nyame saw that they were having a very difficult time deciding so he decided to take it to the sky and keep it there for all to see.

Response- I loved the art work in this book. The way the story was worded was a tad confusing but I enjoyed it. I also love that you gain insight to some other cultures ideas.

Classroom- You could use this book if you were teaching about other cultures and their ideas of how things were created. You could also use this book if you had a lesson plan over the planets. You could tie in how other cultures think the moon got to where it is now.

This book is a story from the Ashanti people from Africa. The book starts off with a father spider explaining the unique talents of his six sons. Then the father goes on a trip. He gets lost and finds himself in trouble. His six sons work together using each of their unique gifts to save their father. After the father is saved he finds a glowing ball and has to decide which of his sons to reward with the prize. He cannot decide which of his sons was best so he gives it to the sky god who keeps the glowing orb in the sky so all the sons can see it and the rest of the world, it’s the moon.

I liked this book. Its shows kids a story from a land and people they might not know about. The story is very inspiring and children that everyone has a special talent that is good for the world.

1.) Have each child identify one of their own special talents and come up with a name that is about it.

2.) After they have their names have them come up with a symbol for their talents and make their own badges like the spiders.

popular folklore. Spider character is quite clever- likable to children.