The Parade
A Stampede of Stories about Ananse the Trickster Spider

By K.P. Kojo Illustrated by Karen Lilje


The Parade
Online price: £5.99
Paperback, 96 pages
Published: 23rd September 2010

Category: Fiction 7+
Interest age, years: From 7 To 11

Here are seven Ananse stories from Ghana pulsating with mischievous animals, a touch of moral message and, peeping out wickedly above them all, Ananse the trickster spider. The original title story, The Parade, telling why Ananse became a trickster in the first place, is a worthy opener to six traditional stories including the favourites Ananse and the Sky God and Ananse and the Hat of Beans. For centuries, Ananse stories have been used in Ghana and the Caribbean to entertain children and teach them good behaviour - and with their vibrant sense of fun and cunning, these stories are sure to have enduring appeal.

This collection of seven trickster tales is lively and entertaining and will be an essential component of any teacher’s story collection. - Back to School Bookseller

With their vibrant sense of fun and cunning these stories are sure to have an enduring appeal. - Booktrust

These delightful stories can be dipped into by relatively new independent readers, but also read well if you are sharing the stories with your child. The setting in Ghana adds exotic appeal and poet KP Kojo creates a fresh experience quite different to most children's books. - Junior

Not only very energetic and entertaining, these tales also encourage children to be well-mannered and polite. - Carousel

This wonderful collection of stories expands Ananse's myth with sparkling wit and words that roll off the tongue. K.P. Kojo has clearly written this refreshing new book to be read aloud and shared. - ABC Best Books for Children

The collection of six stories both read well, and sound well when read aloud, with the lively imagery of the text supported by the black and white line drawings. Each tale has a morel to be told - although part of the fun with Ananse is that you never quite know whether you are going to be following his example, or learn from his mistakes! - School Librarian

All six short stories are simply and assuredly told and, unsurprisingly, are delightfully set and are perfectly complemented by the illustrations of Karen Lilje, all drawn in black and white except for the cover. The moral in all of them is clear and it is interesting to see how even Ananse, despite all his wisdom, can err. The spider is aware of his own shortcomings and in the sixth story he is initially hiding in the forest reflecting upon this. This is a lovely book which is worth considering as an addition to any library supporting children in KS1 and lower KS2. Class teachers looking for multicultural stories for their classes would enjoy this book and so would new independent readers. - Armadillo Magazine

The ink illustrations will capture the younger children's imaginations, and the stories are short enough to be enjoyed as individual bedtime stories. The stories are very clearly told butwith wonderful descriptive writing, setting the scene for each story and giving a little background information on the characters involved. A delight to read. - Ibby Link

This book will transport you to Africa as you get caught up in the rich, descriptive text and fast moving narrative. - English 4-11

From The Parade:

Once upon a long time ago, in the forest of Aboakrom, there lived a spider called Ananse. He was a farmer, and he lived at the edge of a cliff called Fom, beside a deep lake.
Ananse always liked to tell a good tale and all the animals knew him as a fun-loving joker. They preferred him to his friend Adanko the rabbit, who was a known trickster.
The head cat, Muzuru, who was also the wisest animal and the master of the Aboakrom school, always said, "Ananse is an outstanding student and a very sociable fellow."
That was all very well, but Ananse had grown up now and he was lonely. He wanted a wife so that he would have someone to talk to. Someone to swim in the lake with.
Ananse's big secret was that he was in love with the girl that Ketebo the leopard was courting. A girl called Aso Yaa , who had the most beautiful voice in all of Aboakrom.



Publication Details:

Binding: Paperback, 96 pages
ISBN: 9781847800121
Format: 198mm x 129mm

BIC Code: YFJ, YFP
BISAC Code:  JUV002000
Imprint: Frances Lincoln Children's Books


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