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AGES 0-4 • 10 pages • about 3 min to read together
Kweku Anansi tries to teach Tano the dog to fetch a red ball, but Tano has his own funny ideas about sticks, leaves, and sandals.
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PAGE 1 OF 10
Kweku Anansi loved the big, leafy tree in the middle of the school yard. It was his favorite place to play. “What a sunny day!” Kweku said with a wide smile.
PAGE 2 OF 10
Tano the dog trotted over, wagging his tail. Wiggle, waggle! On the grass sat Kweku’s favorite red ball. “Do you want to play fetch, Tano?” Kweku asked.
PAGE 3 OF 10
Kweku was a very clever boy. He had a plan to teach Tano how to fetch. He didn’t pick up the ball yet. Instead, he found a long, bumpy stick.
PAGE 4 OF 10
“Watch the stick, Tano!” Kweku shouted. He threw the stick high into the air. Whiz! Tano zoomed across the grass to catch it.
PAGE 5 OF 10
Crunch, crunch! Tano picked up the stick and ran back to Kweku. He was a very fast dog. “Good job, Tano!” Kweku cheered.
PAGE 6 OF 10
Esi, Kweku’s school friend, came over to watch. “He is very good at fetching sticks,” Esi said. Kweku nodded. “Now watch him get the red ball!”
PAGE 7 OF 10
Kweku threw the stick again, but Tano did not look at it. Instead, Tano found a giant, crunchy green leaf. He brought the leaf to Esi. Crinkle, crinkle!
PAGE 8 OF 10
Zizi the bird watched from a low branch. Chirp, chirp! Kweku pointed at the red ball one more time. “The ball, Tano! Fetch the ball!”
PAGE 9 OF 10
Tano did not want the ball. He did not want the leaf. Snatch! Tano grabbed Kweku’s brown sandal right off his foot! “Hey!” Kweku laughed. “That is my shoe!”
PAGE 10 OF 10
Tano ran away with the sandal, and Kweku hopped after him. Hop, hop, hop! The red ball stayed on the grass, all by itself. Tano was the clever one today!
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
