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AGES 5-6 • 10 pages • about 3 min to read together
Kweku boasts that he is the fastest runner, tries to trick Nala the cheetah with scarf-waving friends, and learns that truth runs farther than tricks.
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PAGE 1 OF 10
Beyond Kweku Anansi’s village, past the yam fields and the tall trees, there was a quiet cave. People said the cave did not echo every sound. It only echoed the truth.
PAGE 2 OF 10
Kweku heard the story and became curious. He stood at the cave mouth and whispered, “I am the fastest runner in the whole village.” The cave stayed silent.
PAGE 3 OF 10
Kweku frowned. “Maybe I was too quiet,” he said. So he ran back to the village square and told everyone, “I am faster than anyone here!”
PAGE 4 OF 10
Nala the cheetah lifted her head. She was known for running like golden wind. “Then let us race tomorrow,” she said kindly. Kweku swallowed hard.
PAGE 5 OF 10
That evening, Kweku made a tricky plan. He asked three friends to stand along the race path wearing orange scarves like his. “When Nala runs by, wave quickly,” he said. “She will think I am everywhere!”
PAGE 6 OF 10
The next morning, the whole village gathered. Nala stretched her long legs. Kweku tied his scarf tight and smiled, though his knees felt wobbly.
PAGE 7 OF 10
The race began. Nala ran like sunlight over the grass. At the first bend, one friend waved an orange scarf. At the second bend, another friend waved. The villagers gasped.
PAGE 8 OF 10
But Nala slowed down and looked carefully. “That is not Kweku,” she said. Soon everyone saw the trick. Kweku’s smile slipped away.
PAGE 9 OF 10
Then the cave across the fields answered at last. A deep echo rolled through the trees: “I am the fastest runner in the whole village.” Everyone heard the old boast come back.
PAGE 10 OF 10
Kweku stepped forward. “I was not truthful,” he said. “I am sorry.” Nala smiled. “You are clever, Kweku, but truth runs farther than tricks.” Kweku nodded and promised to let his clever ideas be honest and kind.
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 5–6
