Anansi Goes Fishing

Anansi Goes Fishing
retold y Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Janet Stevens
Holiday House, 1992

Genre: African Folklore

Honors:

• Book Links 03/01/96
• Booklist 03/01/96
• Child Study Children's Book Committee 1995
• Elementary School Library Collection 06/01/00
• Horn Book
• Kirkus Reviews
• School Library Journal
• Teacher Librarian
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Anansi the trickster is at it again, and this time, he tries to fool Turtle out of an entire meal. Only Turtle is just a clever as his spider friend, if not more so, and he has seen through Anansi's scheme--not only that, but he comes up with a plan of his own, one that will convince Anansi to do all the work and give up all of the spoils. With the aid of Janet Stevens' beautiful full-page illustrations, Eric Kimmel retells a classic African folk tale that imparts a lesson about trying to trick a trickster. The story also alludes to the invention of the spider's web, Anansi's version of the fishing net Turtle taught him how to weave in order to catch food.

Opinion: It is hard for me to imagine anyone not appreciating folk stories that are well illustrated with fun pictures. This book is often recommended for children, but in another format, the same story could be just as interesting to young tween or even older. I got a kick out of Anansi and Turtle's constant trickery.

Ideas: Anansi is a wonderful character to include in a storytelling event. His adventures can be told with puppets, a story board, music, and traditional oral telling.