Author: - An African Tale Retold by Gail E. Haley
Title: - A Story A Story
Illustrator: - Gail E. Haley
Publisher: - Atheneum
Year: - 1970
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Folktale
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Elementary
Topics: - Caldecott Medal, African folktales, Ananse the “spider man,” etiology of stories
Summary: - Once, there was a time when children had no stories to hear, because Nyame, the sky god, held all the stories in a golden box. Ananse the “spider man” decides to go up to the sky god to buy the stories. The sky god tells Ananse that the stories will cost him three creatures that are near impossible to catch, especially by a frail old man. However, Ananse uses quick thinking and wise planning to capture the creatures. After purchasing the stories from the sky god, Ananse brings the golden box back down to earth, releasing the stories to spread through the entire earth.
Extension Activity: - Students will read multiple stories that are based off the original “ananse” stories and compare and contrast the adaptations. Students will choose their favorite story and create either a puppet show or a play to present to the class.
-Students will speculate how their lives would be different if they didn’t have stories. As a class, students will make a collage about the reasons why they are thankful to have stories. This collage could be displayed in the classroom.
