AGES 0-4 • 10 pages • about 4 min to read together

Kweku uses a shiny leaf to coax a shy little lizard from a clay wall, learns that quiet patience works better than noisy excitement, and finally sees the lizard in the sun.

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Kweku watches a warm orange clay wall for a hidden creature.

PAGE 1 OF 10

Kweku Anansi was a very clever boy who lived in a village filled with sunshine. He loved to find hidden things. Today, he was watching a warm, orange clay wall. “I know someone is hiding there,” Kweku whispered with a big grin.

A tiny colorful lizard tail peeks from a dark crack as Kweku watches.

PAGE 2 OF 10

A tiny, scaly tail flicked! A little lizard was hiding in a dark crack in the wall. Kweku wanted to see the lizard’s colorful skin, but the lizard was very shy. Every time Kweku moved, the tail disappeared.

Kweku makes a quiet shushing gesture beside his younger cousin Kwesi.

PAGE 3 OF 10

Kweku’s younger cousin, Kwesi, toddled over to the wall. “What are you looking at, Kweku?” he asked loudly. Kweku put a finger to his lips. “Shhh,” Kweku said softly. “We have to be very quiet to meet our friend.”

Kwesi reaches toward a yellow butterfly near a purple flower while Kweku prepares a trick.

PAGE 4 OF 10

A bright yellow butterfly named Flit danced through the air. Flit landed on a purple flower right next to Kwesi’s foot. Kwesi reached out a hand, but Kweku was busy reaching into his pocket for a special trick.

Kweku places a large shiny green leaf in front of the wall crack.

PAGE 5 OF 10

Kweku pulled out a big, waxy leaf. It was so shiny that it caught the bright sun. Glint, glint! Kweku placed the leaf on the dusty ground right in front of the lizard’s hiding spot. “Lizards love a sunny stage,” Kweku whispered.

The little lizard cautiously pokes its golden-eyed head and front foot from the wall.

PAGE 6 OF 10

The little lizard saw the beautiful, shiny leaf. Slowly, it poked its pointy nose out of the crack. Then it poked its two front feet out. Scritch, scratch! It looked left and it looked right, tempted by the bright green leaf.

Kweku sneezes loudly beside the shiny leaf as the lizard reacts.

PAGE 7 OF 10

Kweku leaned in closer to see the lizard’s golden eyes. He held his breath. But then, a little tickle started deep inside his nose. It grew and it grew until… “ACHOO!” Kweku sneezed a giant, noisy sneeze!

Kweku rubs his nose sadly while surprised Kwesi looks toward the empty wall crack.

PAGE 8 OF 10

Zip! The little lizard was so scared by the big noise that it vanished back into the wall. Kwesi jumped back in surprise. “Oh no,” Kweku sighed, rubbing his nose. “My noisy nose scared our friend away!”

Kweku and Kwesi sit very still beside the shiny leaf and clay wall.

PAGE 9 OF 10

Kweku and Kwesi sat down on the warm ground. They had to be very, very still. They didn’t move their hands. They didn’t move their feet. They even tried not to wiggle their toes. They waited like quiet statues in the sun.

The colorful four-legged lizard rests on the shiny leaf while Kweku and Kwesi watch quietly.

PAGE 10 OF 10

Finally, the lizard crept out and sat right in the middle of the shiny leaf. Kweku smiled a tiny, quiet smile. “Quiet feet work better than a noisy nose,” Kweku thought. He held his nose with his finger, just in case!

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.