Coomacka Island: Anansi Jr. and the Mango Truck [Paperback]

Don P. Hooper (Author), Darnel Degand (Illustrator)

Book Description

Revisit the world of Coomacka Island as Anansi Jr., the great-great-great grandson of legendary trickster Anansi Spider, learns a lesson in true friendship.

Coomacka Island is a mysterious uncharted island (meaning that you won't find this island on any map) in the Caribbean Sea. Four unlikely explorers stumbled on to this wondrous island while searching for the legendary Macka Tree. Anansi Jr and the Mango Truck is but one of many stories that the explorers documented on their travels through Coomacka Island.

Product Details

• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (September 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425101437
• ISBN-13: 978-1425101435
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,663,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definite 5 Star children's book, March 4, 2007

By 

Terry South "Quality Book Reviews" (Maryville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coomacka Island: Anansi Jr. and the Mango Truck (Paperback)

Coomacka Island Anansi Jr And The Mango Truck
by Don P. Hooper
Illustrated by Darnel Degand

[...]
Great website for both you and your children to enjoy.

Coomacka Island, Anansi Jr. & the Mango Truck by Don P. Hooper is a Caribbean tale that involves Anansi Jr., a spider who loves mangoes and is a tale of learning a lesson in true friendship.

This is a enchanting, delightful, and stimulating read for young readers, it has bright colors, wonderful graphics & illustrations (Illustrated by Darnel Degand)which are so vivid they will have your children using their imaginations and asking questions.

I look forward to all the adventures to continue, and will honestly being collecting each one for my grandson Caden to enjoy. This is a wonderful book for all young readers and is highly recommended as a must for the children in your life.

A Definite 5 Star children's book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Caribbean Tale, February 25, 2007

By 

M. Bruner ""Deltareviewer" Real Page ... (Oklahoma!) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coomacka Island: Anansi Jr. and the Mango Truck (Paperback)

Hooper has penned a lively children's tale about friendship. Anansi Jr. "AJ" is a spider proud of his garden. AJ works hard to maintain his household and day dreams about the sweetness of mangoes. AJ decides to walk to the market and buy all the mangoes he can carry. Upon his return, some friends ask him to share his mangoes. Will he share the best mangoes around or will he lose them all because of his selfishness? What lessons will AJ learn?

ANANSI JR. AND THE MANGO TRUCK is an enchanting read with a Caribbean flavor. The illustrations are colorful and vivid which allow young readers to ignite their imagination and ask questions about friendship. My six year old absolutely loved this book as well as the accompanying website. This book will be a treasure for this generation and the next.

Reviewed By - Deltareviewer
For Real Page Turners

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children Will Love Coomacka Island, May 11, 2007

By 

RJ "Book-Lover" (TN, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coomacka Island: Anansi Jr. and the Mango Truck (Paperback)

Anansi Jr and the Mango Truck is the second installment in the Coomacka Island series. Based in part, on Afro-Caribbean folklore, Anansi was the great trickster and somewhat of cult hero to islanders. For hundreds of years, folk tales about the Macka Tree and the spirits dwelling within roots have been passed down through the generations. As with many cherished stories, the fictional fires erupted from a spark of truth.

The story begins with AJ tending his garden, filled with beautiful plants, including his award winning Monkey Tail Shrub. There was only one thing that he loved more than gardening and that was eating. However, he was a very greedy spider and had never experienced the joy of sharing. Nevertheless, on this day, he would learn a valuable lesson about the spirit of giving and friendship.

Once again, Hooper and Degand have delivered a fictional tale, filled with life lesson of immense importance. From the first colorful page, the reader is transported to the heart of the Caribbean. The emotion-filled drawings bring the words, as well as, the island itself to life. Introducing names with various origins, such as Swahili or Haitian, offers children an opportunity to expand their vocabulary, while embracing cultural diversity. Although Coomacka Island is an uncharted, fictional Island, the morals and values found here have universal appeal.

Featuring an entertaining forward and fun facts at the conclusion, Hooper and Degand have created a multi-layered, multi-cultural series that will be cherished by children, parents and teachers the world over. And with the addition of the interactive website, exploring Coomacka Island is only a click away. [...]

Happy Reading!