The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales (BookFestival) (Paperback)

by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst (Author), Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator) "MANY dry seasons ago, before the oldest man in our village can remember, before the rain and the dry and the rain and the dry..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dark Corners, The Adventures of Spider

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
These six simple, witty tales reso-nate with the flavor of a far-off land;Pinkney--in one of his earliest illustrative efforts--contributes droll, highly stylized illustrations. Ages 4-10.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Presents six tales about Spider, including those which explain how he got a thin waist and a bald head and why he lives in ceilings and dark corners.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 58 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (November 2, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316051071
• ISBN-13: 978-0316051071
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #451,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders > Staff Picks
  #30 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( P ) > Pinkney, Jerry
  #45 in	Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > African

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book for children and adult storytellers, December 30, 1997

By A Customer

The author has presented a simple, easy to read format which will be easy for children to read, understand, and most important, ENJOY! The humor is wonderful. The main character, Spider, will be easily recognizable to those children already familiar with the Anansi stories. Additionally, I am a teacher and have introduced oral storytelling into my second grade classroom. These stories are simple, rich and easy to learn for those who may be interested in becoming a storyteller themselves! It's a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing!, July 19, 2004

By A Customer

I'd agree with the previous reviewer; however, the author (Joyce Cooper Arkhurst) was indeed the person responsible for popularizing the Anansi stories here in the USA! The vocabulary in the book introduces kids to Africa and West African terms and culture. Joyce was a storyteller at the New York City Public Library many years ago and received a grant to go to West Africa to research the rich oral tradition of storytelling in the villages. This book was the first to popularize the Anansi stories and opened the door for McDermott and others. Enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sound of Africa, October 17, 2007

By	Winston E. Hall "HL" (Decatur, Ga. United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This product has the sound of Africa. It sounds more athentic than other similar books. It is also more culturely oriented.