Anansi and Turtle
A West African and Caribbean folktale
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Story
Unwilling to share his roasted yams, Anansi tells Turtle he must wash his hands before eating. Turtle washes but by the time he gets back to Anansi his hands are dirty again. Anansi keeps sending him back to wash until Anansi has finished the meal and Turtle has eaten nothing. Turtle invites Anansi for a meal in return but Turtle lives underwater and Anansi is so light he finds he can’t sink to Turtle’s house. He fills his jacket with rocks but just as he is about to eat, Turtle tells him he must take his coat off. Without the weight of the rocks, Anansi floats back to the surface and misses the meal.
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Why we chose it
A very funny story about the biggest trickster being tricked. Children love to hear about Anansi being tricked for a change.
Book a school visit with a literacy workshop
Bring your class to explore the Whispering Wood and meet classic Trickster characters before creating their own Trickster inspired stories. School Visits