AGES 7-8 • 12 pages • about 3 min to read together

Hungry Kweku tries to charm Turtle into sharing a simmering pot of beans, then learns that patience, honesty, and helping hands make a shared meal sweeter.

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Hungry Kweku sits up in his village room with one hand on his belly.

PAGE 1 OF 12

Kweku Anansi woke one bright morning with a rumbling belly. He had spent all week telling jokes, inventing riddles, and chasing clever ideas—but clever ideas did not fill an empty stomach.

Kweku follows a delicious smell along a Ghanaian forest path.

PAGE 2 OF 12

With his orange scarf around his neck, Kweku walked through the forest and listened for anything that sounded like lunch. Soon he smelled something warm, smoky, and rich with herbs.

Kweku discovers Turtle stirring beans in a clay pot in a sunny clearing.

PAGE 3 OF 12

Kweku followed the smell to a sunny clearing. There sat Turtle, stirring a large clay pot of beans over a small cooking fire.

Kweku cheerfully praises Turtle’s pot of beans.

PAGE 4 OF 12

“Good day, Turtle,” Kweku said politely. “Those beans smell so good they could make the sun stop and ask for a bowl.” Turtle smiled slowly at Kweku’s grand praise.

Turtle explains that the family beans need more time to cook.

PAGE 5 OF 12

“These beans are for my family tonight,” Turtle explained. “They must cook a little longer.” Kweku’s stomach answered with a loud gurgle.

Kweku offers Turtle stories in exchange for a small bowl of beans.

PAGE 6 OF 12

“I can help you wait,” Kweku offered. “I will tell stories so fine the beans will almost cook themselves. When they are ready, perhaps you could share a small bowl.”

Turtle gives Kweku a calm warning to keep his hands away from the pot.

PAGE 7 OF 12

Turtle agreed, for Kweku’s stories were famous—even if his tricks were famous too. “Tell your stories,” Turtle said, “but keep your hands away from the pot until the beans are ready.”

Kweku tells a funny story while inching toward the cooking pot.

PAGE 8 OF 12

Kweku told of a moon that borrowed a drum and a goat that taught thunder to whisper. Turtle laughed, while Kweku stepped a little closer to the pot, then a little closer still.

Turtle calmly stops Kweku before he reaches the hot pot.

PAGE 9 OF 12

With one hand waving grandly, Kweku reached the other toward the beans. “Stop,” Turtle said. Kweku froze. “Beans are not checked with hungry fingers.”

Kweku performs another silly story while Turtle watches the pot wisely.

PAGE 10 OF 12

Kweku tried a louder, sillier story, then one about dancing trees and singing yams. Turtle smiled at every tale, but his wise eyes stayed on Kweku’s hands.

Kweku honestly admits his hunger while Turtle teaches him about patience.

PAGE 11 OF 12

At last Kweku sighed. “Turtle, I am very hungry. I wanted to earn the beans with stories, but then I tried to sneak them.” Turtle nodded. “A wise person waits until a meal is safe and shared.”

Kweku helps Turtle serve the beans and gratefully enjoys a shared bowl.

PAGE 12 OF 12

Kweku fetched clean water, gathered leaves for plates, and helped keep the fire steady. When the beans were ready, Turtle shared a small bowl. Kweku smiled. Patience, honesty, and helping made the meal taste sweeter.

Talk about it together

What was your favourite part of the story?
What do you think Anansi learned?
What would you have done differently?

ABOUT THIS TALE

Anansi (Kwaku Ananse) is the clever spider of Ashanti folklore from Ghana. These tales were told aloud for generations and travelled the world with the Akan people. This is an original retelling that keeps the wit and warmth of the tradition alive for young readers.