Verna Aardema

A retelling of a traditional West African tale that reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying habit. A mosquito annoyed the iguana, who frightened the python, who scared the rabbit ... and now the whole jungle is in an uproar because the sun won't rise. The animals discuss the situation and decide to punish the mosquito. Even today, whenever we hear a mosquito buzz, we smack it hard!

A little lamb uses her clever wiles to keep a coyote from eating her up. Includes activities, inspired by the story, on inside covers. What's a little lamb to do about a fierce coyote that wants to eat her? Why, trick him, of course ... and and trick him again ... and trick him one more time! Here's a lively retelling of a Mexican folk tale by master story teller Verna Aardema, illustrated in bold, winning colors by Petra Mathers.

Anansi and his wife outsmart the Sky God and win back the beloved folktales of their people. Peppered with Verna Aardema's trademark ideophones--words that mimic actual sounds--this book makes an ideal read-aloud. Brilliantly realized characters and West African flavor come together in Desimini's extraordinary collage illustrations. Includes a glossary of West African terms and pronunciations. Full color.

In this retelling of a Masai tale, a mongoose helps an ostrich get her chicks back from the lonely lioness who has stolen them.

Lazy Anansi seeks to trick someone into doing the heavy work of laying his fish trap, but instead he is fooled into doing the job himself.

For saving the life of a snake, Ketu is rewarded by being allowed to hear animals think.

Rabbit tricks the other animals of the African plain into giving her food and other treats.

Relates how a young man named Kojo finally gets the better of the tricky Anansi.

A collection of nine folk tales from Africa.

A strange animal called the Vingananee beats up all the other animals and eats their stew until the tiny Tree Toad offers to fight him.