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AGES 0-4 • 10 pages • about 3 min to read together
Kweku Anansi tries to balance a round calabash on his head, but a tiny fly and a big sneeze turn his clever trick into a funny surprise.
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PAGE 1 OF 10
Kweku Anansi is at the village well. He sees a big, round calabash. It is smooth and brown. “I want to carry this all the way home,” Kweku says. “It will be a clever trick!”
PAGE 2 OF 10
Efua the market woman walks by. She has a big basket on her head. Step, step, step. “Careful, Kweku,” Efua says with a smile. “That calabash is very wiggly!”
PAGE 3 OF 10
Kweku pats his head. “I am very clever, Efua! I will not let it wiggle. I will not let it jiggle.” Efua laughs and waves her hand as she walks toward the market.
PAGE 4 OF 10
Kweku lifts the calabash. Heave-ho! He places it right on top of his head. It feels very heavy. It feels very round. Kweku stands very, very still.
PAGE 5 OF 10
Mmoboro the beetle crawls onto a bright leaf nearby. He has shiny wings. Click, click! Mmoboro watches Kweku. Kweku looks like a boy wearing a big wooden hat!
PAGE 6 OF 10
Kweku starts to walk. He takes tiny, tiny steps. Tip, toe, tip, toe. He does not move his arms. He does not move his neck. He is a balancing master!
PAGE 7 OF 10
Kweku is doing it! He is past the well. He is past the big baobab tree. “Look at me!” Kweku whispers. “I am the cleverest boy in the village!”
PAGE 8 OF 10
But then, a little fly buzzes past. Buzz, buzz! It tickles Kweku’s nose. Kweku’s nose begins to twitch. Wiggle, waggle. “Oh no,” Kweku whispers.
PAGE 9 OF 10
Kweku cannot stop it. His eyes squeeze shut. A-choo! A giant sneeze shakes his whole body. The calabash flies up and falls down. Tumble, tumble, roll!
PAGE 10 OF 10
The calabash rolls into the tall green grass. Apotro the frog sees it. Hop, hop, plop! Apotro jumps right inside the calabash. “Thank you for my new house, Kweku!” Apotro croaks. Kweku giggles. Even clever boys have to sneeze!
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.
More Anansi stories
Explore more Anansi
- Who is Anansi? — meet the clever trickster spider of Ghana.
- See Anansi in 360° — his spider and human forms.
- More free stories for ages 0–4
