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Anansi The Spider Review

ANANSI THE SPIDER is a retelling of a story from the Ashanti people by Gerald McDermott. Though one doesn't realize it at the onset, the story is actually an origins tale about a very important piece of our universe. The story revolves around a father spider named Anansi and his six sons. Each of his sons has an unique gift and on a particular day each of the sons is called upon to use their gifts as their father finds himself in lots of trouble. The book has a map of Africa at the beginning that displays where the country of Ghana, the place where the Ashanti people live. The beginning also includes a prologue by the author explaining the importance of folklore, mythology, and legends and where the story comes from and what makes Anansi such a beloved character. The story is told in a type of broken English and is accompanied by some very bright and colorful, very geometric illustrations. It was a winner of the 1973 Caldecott Honor because of the very memorable illustrations.

Anansi The Spider Overview

In trying to determine which of his six sons to reward for saving his life, Anansi the Spider is responsible for placing the moon in the sky.

Anansi The Spider Specifications

Anansi the Spider is a wise, funny, mischievous, and loveable folk hero who pops up in traditional Ashanti tales from Ghana, in West Africa. This story, retold and illustrated by Gerald McDermott, relates the tale of father Anansi and his six spider sons. When Anansi sets out on a dangerous journey and gets into all sorts of trouble, each son does one thing to help, and all their efforts together save their father. He finds a mysterious, beautiful globe of light in the forest, and decides to make it a gift of thanks. But which son should receive the prize? Even with the help of Nyame, the God of All Things, he can't decide, so Nyame takes the great globe up into the sky, and that's where it has stayed ever since--the moon, for all to see. This profound story reaches children of many ages; younger ones see it as an exciting rescue story, but older children are intrigued by the larger themes of cooperation and "the whole being more than its parts."

Anansi the Spider, McDermott's first book, received immediate acclaim and was named a Caldecott Honor Book. McDermott has retold and illustrated many other folktales and myths during his long career, including Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale, which received the Caldecott Medal, Musicians of the Sun, and a series of trickster folktales from around the world. He has a rare combination of skills, being both a gifted writer and a talented artist. His distinctive graphic style using bold shapes and brilliant colors is always striking, but is especially well suited to the story of Anansi, with traditional African motifs skillfully integrated throughout the art. This is a story that can be read over and over again! (Ages 4 to 9) --Marcie Bovetz

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Customer Reviews

Anansi The Spider - Steven C. Thedford - Atlanta
The story is from the Ashanti people of West Africa. Anansi is folk hero, well known to the people of Ghana, and a trickster. The story is about Anansi's six sons,- See Trouble, Second son, Thirty son, Next son, Another son, and Cushion. During the tale, Anansi gets himself into trouble- what else is new. Yet, each son uses his gifts to help save their father. The story can teach children that they all have unique talents.

A must have for pre-k! - Julia M. Heaney - Bergen County, NJ
For whatever reason, this is my students' very favorite story! They love the characters, and role play being 'road builder,' 'stone thrower' and the rest quite often! I highly recommend it for preschool teachers- great for discussions about working together.

I do not recommend this book - Kurt A. Johnson - North-Central Illinois, USA
This is the story of Kwaku Anansi, a spider, who had six sons. And one day, when Anansi disappeared, his sons used their special abilities to see him some safely. But, when the adventure is over and Anansi wants to reward his most worthy son, he must find a special solution.

This book won the 1973 Caldecott Honor, but I must say that I strongly disagree with that. The author, Gerald McDermott of Detroit, Michigan, used a rather stunted English for the story, pretty much eschewing the use of definite articles. For example, on one page he writes, "And last of sons was Cushion." Is the book suggesting that African people by their nature use a pidgin English? I must say that I found the book to be condescending and downright insulting.

As an attempt to bring African folklore to the common reader, I think that the book is wonderful. But, for its actual execution, I think that the book leaves much to be desired. I do not recommend this book.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 08, 2010 15:31:05

Children's Books

Wednesday, September 8, 2010