Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kimmel, Eric, A. Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock. Ill. by Janet Stevens. New York: Holiday House. 1988. ISBN: 0-8234-0689-X

PLOT SUMMARY
Anansi the spider uses a moss-covered rock with special powers to trick his animal friends: Lion, Zebra, Elephant and Giraffe. The strange rock puts his friends to sleep so that Anansi can steal their food to feed his voracious appetite. Little Deer, who is hiding in the jungle brush, sees Anansi’s antics and decides to teach him a lesson. When Anansi tries to trick her, the tables are turned and the joke is on him!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Originally told as a West African tale, the story was adapted to Caribbean culture where Anansi is a beloved folklore character. Stevens uses both cultures to depict the setting (e.g. lush greenery, a rustic cabin with lawn chairs and ceiling fans on the porch, coconuts in a basket, etc.). The story features repetitive language and events that enhance the plot, leading children to make predictions in anticipation of the story climax. Kimmel’s characterization and Steven’s delightful illustrations give the characters human qualities with which children can identify - even the lion has a pet iguana! The choice of natural colors and predominantly neutral tones evokes a feeling of a serene, natural environment typical of the Caribbean and the West African coast. Children will enjoy looking for Little Deer hiding in the brightly colored foliage as she witnesses Anansi’s pranks. They will be eager to discuss the theme of good verses bad and provide insight about the deserved consequences of being a trickster. This folktale is sure to be a favorite among teachers and primary school students.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist: “With perfect pacing and repetition and with surprising reversals up to the very last page, this is a great choice for reading aloud and storytelling.”

School Library Journal: “Stevens' anthropomorphic animals are both expressive and endearing…A surefire hit.”

CONNECTIONS
*Collect other trickster stories to read and compare characters and their antics.
*Read other trickster stories and have children create animal puppets to perform a readers theater or to retell the story.

Related books:
Virginia Hamilton, A Ring of Tricksters: Animal Tales from America, the West Indies and Africa. 1997 ISBN: 10: 0590473743
Eric Kimmel, Anansi and the Talking Melon.1994. ISBN: 10: 0823411672

RESOURCES
Picture: http://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/images/AnansiandtheMossCoveredRock.jpg
(Accessed February 3, 2010)
http://www.funfelt.com/anansi_rock.html (Accessed Feb. 15, 2010)