'Anansi and the Talking Melon' and 'Anansi and the Magic Stick'

Anansi the Spider is the master trickster, and his shenanigans are humorously presented in these fantastic narratives based on West African folktales.The clever Anansi uses a magic rock he finds to pilfer food from his animal friends. What he doesn't realize is that the shy Little Bush Deer is observing his antics, and ultimately tricks the trickster.

Did you ever wonder why spiders have no hair? After reading this African trickster tale, you will know. When Anansi goes to help his grandmother, he can't resist her steaming-hot pot of beans. Bobby and Sherry Norfolk take a wonderful new look at a classic story. Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire.

Anansi, one of the great folk heroes of the world, is saved from a terrible fate by his six sons in this traditional tale from West Africa.

In this trickster tale from Africa, Anansi proves to Elephant and Killer Whale that in a battle of wits, brains definitely outdo brawn. Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire.

Here are two hilarious Jamaican folktales about the original story spinner himself, both read by Denzel Washington. Anansi the spider is teeny-teeny, but his boasts are as tall as tales get. In the first story, Anansi takes Tiger's challenge and outwits the prideful snake to win possession of all the stories in the jungle. In the second story, Anansi devises a scheme to appear important at his mother-in-law's funeral but gets caught in his own lies and winds up as bald as a mango.