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sducharme's review
2.0
Traditional literature, trickster tale from West Africa
The story of how Anansi, the spider man, tricks the sky god into giving away his stories. The paper cut illustrations are not appealing due to many colors of the same hue resulting in a lack of vibrance and contrast, and due to a lack of movement and expression. The story itself is engaging, but I prefer the version told in Gail Haley's "A Srory, A Story" - the tricks are more surprising.
The story of how Anansi, the spider man, tricks the sky god into giving away his stories. The paper cut illustrations are not appealing due to many colors of the same hue resulting in a lack of vibrance and contrast, and due to a lack of movement and expression. The story itself is engaging, but I prefer the version told in Gail Haley's "A Srory, A Story" - the tricks are more surprising.
taliaissmart's review
4.0
Anansi* performs three "impossible" tasks for the sky god and thus reclaims the folklore of the Ashanti people for the mortals. I loved the folkloric narration of the story, with the onomatopoetic language and the repetition. The art is absolutely gorgeous as well.
*My complaint: Anansi doesn't actually have any ideas himself- his wife Aso solves each puzzle and sets Anansi up to get all the acclaim. Frustrating, yet typical. Anansi isn't known for being honest or fair to those around him, but I wish Aso would put at least one of her many feet down and take some credit.
*My complaint: Anansi doesn't actually have any ideas himself- his wife Aso solves each puzzle and sets Anansi up to get all the acclaim. Frustrating, yet typical. Anansi isn't known for being honest or fair to those around him, but I wish Aso would put at least one of her many feet down and take some credit.
theraykay's review
4.0
Anansi wants the sky god to let the people have all the folktales, but the sky god wants Anansi to complete 3 impossible tasks. Like other Anansi stories, this one involves trickery to accomplish the impossible tasks.
kesterbird's review
5.0
I recently read a much more condescending version if this story, and am glad to have found this one. It's a great story.
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