Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock [Hardcover]

Eric A. Kimmel (Author), Janet Stevens (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1988 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Anansi the Spider uses a strange moss-covered rock in the forest to trick all the other animals, until Little Bush Deer decides he needs to learn a lesson.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4 Anansi the Spider happens upon an unusual stone that magically puts him to sleep for an hour. The master trickster decides to use the rock to get the food stores from the rest of the local residents. Each animal is taken in turn to the strange moss-covered rock, says the magic phrase, and promptly falls asleep to have its food pilfered by Anansi. All the while, however, Little Bush Deer silently watches. Ultimately, it is small and shy Deer who outwits Anansi and returns the food to its rightful owners. Although no specific source is given, Kimmel has retold a West African tale (said to be known in Caribbean culture). The text is rhythmic, nicely building suspense to the inevitable conclusion. Stevens' complementary, colorful illustrations add detail, humor, and movement to the text. Here, Anansi is portrayed as a large eight-legged arachnid; his expression is in his motion. The other animals are almost realistic, although with facial expressions that are characteristic of the artist's work. This new picture book Anansi tale will be welcomed by all trickster fans. Maria B. Salvadore, District of Columbia Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel is Professor of Education at Portland State University and a past president of the Oregon Reading Association. The author of a number of picture books, he is a regular contributor to the children's magazine Cricket, as well as a storyteller. For years he has told Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock to enthusiastic audiences. Originally a West African tale, the moss-covered rock story is familiar in Caribbearn culture, where Anansi is a beloved folklore character. Sometimes, he assumes the form of a man; other times, he is depicted as a spider. Dr. Kimmel and his wife live in Portland, Oreland.

Janet Stevens received her B.F.A. from the University of Colorado. She has illustrated and adapted The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse, The Tortoise and the Hare, and several Hans Christian Andersen tales. She has also illustrated The Big Bunny and the Easter Eggs and other popular books. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082340689X
• ISBN-13: 978-0823406890
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel is well known for the tales he has retold from around the world. Some of his best-known titles are "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" (a Caldecott Honor book), "Gershon's Monster", "Anansi and the Talking Melon", and "The Runaway Tortilla". A former professor of children's literature, he lives in Portland, Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Delightful and Enjoyable, December 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (Paperback)

My second graders loved it! Kimmel is an expert storyteller. His Anansi tale is humorous and utterly delightful! It also teaches children a valuable lesson, as do all tales of this type! This is definitely a book for which children of all ages will sit still.The illustrations are colorful and eyecatching. It adds the perfect touch to this wonderful little book. I can only hope that the author, Eric Kimmel, continues producing stories of such high quality.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for reading or telling, May 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (Paperback)

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock is a staple in my storytelling repetoire. Small children appreciate the repetition; older children appreciate the humor; adults enjoy the pure playfulness of the tale. In short, this is another example of folktales being excellent (or not surviving).

The book is well written and well illustrated - I hope it becomes a children's classic as it deserves to be

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "What a strange moss-covered--" KPOM!, September 21, 2003

By 

Jens Alfke (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (Paperback)

My kids (ages 8 and 5) think this book is hilarious -- I just now finished [re]reading it to my daughter, who made me repeat the schtick between Anansi and the little mule deer about six times in a row, ending up with us acting out the two parts. A little boisterous for bedtime, maybe, but we had a ball. The idea of a strange moss-covered rock that knocks out anyone who says "what a strange moss-covered rock!" is pretty surreal, but if you suspend your disbelief the rest of the tale, and its moral lesson, follow like clockwork.
The illustrations are well done, too. Some of the animals are a little too cartoony-cute, but Anansi has an intriguingly zig-zag shape, and it's a nice sight gag to see them using ceiling fans and aluminum lawn chairs. Also, if you flip back through the book you can find little mule deer peeking out from the background on nearly every page, which is a huge bonus as far as the kids are concerned.
A previous reviewer condemned this story as violent -- but it's not suggested or shown anywhere in the book that the rock hits the animals on the head. Instead it's just "KPOM!" and the animal falls in a faint. My kids and I hadn't even considered the being-hit-on-the-head theory at all: they just figured the rock was magic. Maybe they just haven't watched enough Bugs Bunny cartoons...