Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Keeper of Stories...

Divine in nature, Anansi creeps into the corners of life. Keeping pace with the scene, he makes friends, causes trouble, and seeks out what he covets most, food. He ties together a grand cast of characters, including a fierce tiger and a wee pig. Though he sets traps along the way, he lives for the moment each day. Can Anansi trust tiger? What will happen to wee pig? What do you feed that just keeps getting hungrier? You must read this book to find out! 

Anansi and Company: Retold Jamaican Tales by Bish Denham is a great collection of fun stories and riddles. Anansi is a spider, a god, and a trickster. He wins some, and he loses some, but remains light-hearted either way. He holds the spirit of a god, but his nature is very human, and even when he fails, he carries on cheerfully. Anansi is a delightfully sticky character to scuttle along with, and his words point to truths that resonate within us all. I also really enjoyed the riddles, which are craftily woven into the pages. They will definitely keep you guessing! I recommend this book to anyone who likes folklore or gets tickled pink by a good myth. :) 

Has anyone else read Anansi and Company: Retold Jamaican Tales by Bish Denham? If so, what did you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading! ~ F







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28 comments:

  1. Didn't guess this. Congrats to Bish! Her book looks so cute. Wish I had a baby to share it with.

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  2. Delightfully sticky -- sounds like an awesome character!

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  3. I've seen this book around, and it looks so cute! Congrats to Bish!

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  4. Natalie, you don't need a baby. All you need is a reader. These stories are good for all ages, but lower MG is probably the best. :)

    Barbara, I like delightfully sticky too! So spidery.

    Thanks Cherie! I'm glad to know it's showing up around the blogs.

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  5. I have...I lived sharing them with my second graders...the Anansi stories!

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  6. Woot, woot! Bish is making the rounds. You know what I feed that keeps getting hungrier? My kids. Oh, and my creativity. =)

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  7. Thank you SO MUCH Patty! It's wonderful to know you've shared them with your second graders. I truly appreciate it!

    Crystal, I can also assure you that Anansi likes cheese!

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  8. Wishing Bish all the best! Sounds like a wonderful book. I should check this out for my grandson. :)

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  9. This sounds terrific. I am sure you loved it with all the tricky riddles!

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  10. Congrats to Bish! I named a character in my new book inspired by her name. :)

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  11. Yay to Bish and hi Bish. I'm one of her starstruck fans :) Hearty congrats.

    Gary :)

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  12. This sounds so cute! We haven't read it, but we'll definitely add it to our TBR! Thanks for sharing, lovely ladies! *hugs*

    --Michele & Katertot @ A Belle's Tales

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  13. I would have utterly loved this when I was younger! (Still will, but as a kid this would have been totally up my alley.) Adding to my increasingly long list for my nephews :)

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  14. Oh my goodness!
    Karen, it would be perfect for your grandson.

    I hope you get to read it, Heidi.

    Mary, are you serious? You've named a character after ME? I'm stunned, honored!

    Awww, Klahanie I'm going all soft and mushy inside. Thanks!

    Hope you enjoy it A Belle's Tales.

    Meradeth, I totally understand about the increasingly long list of books, but I can just about guarantee kids of ALL ages will enjoy this book. :)

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  15. No, I haven't, but I've seen this collection mentioned on several blogs recently. Sounds like a fascinating read!

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  16. Aw this sounds super cute!!! It'd be fun to incorporate into my classroom and chat about folklore!!

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  17. Claudine, Anansi has been enjoying his visits around the blogs!

    It would be a great book to share with your students, Mary. Thanks for stopping by!

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    1. Bish- We have loved having you visit out blog and we adored this collection of stories. Thanks for stopping by and chatting with our readers. :) You are awesome and we wish you the best of luck! ~Jess and Stephanie

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  18. Anansi kind of reminds me of Peter Pan because he's a trickster or more accurately Hermes. I didn't realize there was so many riddles and stories about him. I know about him and I THINK I've read a story about him but maybe I need to find some more stories about him because I'm clearly missing something great (:

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    1. Adriana- I love your connection to Peter Pan! I hope you will read this book because it will be entertaining and you will learn something. :) ~L

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  19. Yes, I read Anansi. Bish's collection is amazing.

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    1. Medeia- Wonderful to hear from someone else who has read this collection. So glad you loved the stories too. :) ~L

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  20. This sounds like a fantastic collection, and one even the adult will enjoy as they read it to their children..love when that happens

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    1. Kimba- It is a fantastic collection to be enjoyed by people of all ages. :) ~L

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  21. I like the cover and considering my very strong dislike of spiders that's good going. I've not read it, but I would like to.

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    1. Barbara- Considering your dislike for spiders- that is huge! I hope you get to read it soon. :) ~L

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  22. Your post has made me curious to look into Jamaican tales.

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