Home › Anansi Stories › Ages 11-13
AGES 11-13 • 12 pages • about 3 min to read together
Kweku learns part of the Serpent’s Lullaby of Time, misuses it to stretch the night, then restores balance by listening and repairing the song.
Listen on Spotify
Watch on YouTubeRead the story
PAGE 1 OF 12
Kweku Anansi first heard the song on a night when the moon looked too close. It slipped between the huts like silver smoke and made every sleeping child smile.
PAGE 2 OF 12
He followed the melody beyond the farms, past flowers that glowed blue and gold. At the center of the meadow, a great serpent rested around an ancient silk-cotton tree.
PAGE 3 OF 12
Her scales shimmered green, violet, and deep blue, and a white crescent marked her brow. Each soft breath became the song that opened morning and folded night.
PAGE 4 OF 12
“Great Serpent,” Kweku whispered, “why do you sing alone?” Her golden eyes opened. “This is the Lullaby of Time. I keep dreams and daylight taking turns.”
PAGE 5 OF 12
Kweku should have bowed and gone home. Instead, curiosity tugged at him. “If I learned it,” he asked, “could I make one hour last as long as a whole evening?”
PAGE 6 OF 12
The serpent studied him. “You may learn one verse,” she said, “but power is not a toy for clever hands.” Kweku nodded quickly, already humming.
PAGE 7 OF 12
When the serpent slept, Kweku sang the verse by himself. The moon paused above the palms. Shadows stretched. Night stayed and stayed, as if morning had lost the road.
PAGE 8 OF 12
At first, Kweku laughed. Then roosters called until they were hoarse. Flowers closed their petals. Goats stumbled in the dark, and babies woke crying for sunrise.
PAGE 9 OF 12
Kweku ran back to the meadow. “I wanted more time,” he confessed, “but I stole it from everyone else.” The serpent lowered her great head beside him.
PAGE 10 OF 12
“Sing the verse backward,” she said. “Not to win. To repair.” Kweku tried once and tangled the tune. He tried again, listening instead of showing off.
PAGE 11 OF 12
The third time, the song unwound like a ribbon. Pale gold touched the grass. Birds lifted their heads. The sun climbed slowly, as if forgiving the world.
PAGE 12 OF 12
From then on, Kweku still loved clever questions, but he asked them with both ears open. And whenever night came gently, he remembered that time belongs to all who live inside it.
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
Anansi and Adoma’s Wish Stone →
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 11–13
