Akron Public Library

Anansi the Spider steals Hyena's magic stick so he won't have to do the chores, but when the stick's magic won't stop, he gets more than he bargained for.

Osebo the leopard has a magnificent drum that he won't share with anyone else, so Nayme, the Sky-God, offers a reward to the animal who will bring him the drum.

A clever spider tricks Elephant and some other animals into thinking the melon in which he is hiding can talk. A tricky spider outwits all the other animals in this African folk tale.

Donso, a West African hunterman, learns the importance of living in harmony with nature and the necessity of placing humans among, not above, all other living things.

When three friends invite Anansi the Spider to lunch on the same day, he learns a lesson about greed.

"The stories of West Africa are about men and animals, about kings, warriors, and hunters. They tell about clever people and stupid people, about good ones and bad ones, about how things and animals got to be how they are. Sometimes they are just tall tales. There are stories about Frog, Rabbit, Turtle, Guinea Fowl, and all the other animals that West Africans know. Some of the stories make you think. Some make you laugh. Here are some of the stories...

The sky god Nyame owns all the stories in the world. He keeps them to himself in a box in his kingdom in the clouds. But Anansi thinks the stories should be shared by all creatures. So one day he strikes a bargain with the sky god. If Anansi can trick some of the earth's fiercest and quickest creatures, Nyame will share his stories. Learn how Anansi wins the box of stories in this ancient tale from West Africa.

A simple farmer is startled when first a yam and then a dog, a tree, and a stone talk to him.

A retelling of a traditional West African tale that reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying habit.

In this retelling of a West African tale, Ma Sheep Thunder and her impetuous son Ram Lightning are forced to leave their home on Earth because of the trouble Ram causes.