Ananse and the Lizard: A West African Tale Retold & Illustrated by Pat Cummings

Can the legendary West African trickster be out-tricked? Step into a lively, humorous world of folklore with Ananse and the Lizard: A West African Tale, written, retold, and brilliantly illustrated by award-winning author Pat Cummings.

When the village Chief announces that whoever can guess his daughter's secret name will win her hand in marriage, inherit half his riches, and become the next Chief, young men gather from all around. Through a stroke of sheer luck, Ananse the spider discovers the prized secret name. Declaring himself the most clever creature in the land, Ananse schemes to claim his reward—but Lizard has plans of his own! Cummings' vibrant artwork and animated storytelling capture all the mischief, charm, and clever twists of traditional West African lore.

Why We Love It:

• Classic Folklore with a Twist: Brings the famous trickster spider Ananse to life in a fun, engaging story where brainpower meets surprising cleverness.
• Award-Winning Illustrator: Features rich, dynamic, full-color artwork by Coretta Scott King Award winner Pat Cummings.
• Great for Classroom & Reading Programs: Includes Accelerated Reader metadata, making it an excellent pick for elementary school libraries, read-alouds, and multicultural literature units.

Perfect For: Young readers, elementary classrooms, school libraries, folklore and fairytale collections, read-aloud storytimes, and children who love trickster tales.

Product Specs:

• Author / Illustrator: Pat Cummings
• Format: Hardcover
• Number of Pages: 40
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.8" x 8.5"
• Illustrated: Yes
• Publication Date: October 01, 2002
• Accelerated Reader: Level 4.0 | Interest Level: K-3 (Lower Grades) | 0.5 Pts
• Subject: Children's Picture Books / Folklore & Fairy Tales / West Africa / Animals