Outside Reading Annonated Bibliography Assignment 3

A Story A Story

Retold and Illustrated

By

Gail E. Haley

Haley Gail E. (1970). A Story A Story. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks

“A Story A Story” is a beautifully retold African tale written and illustrated by author Gail E Haley.  This book explains how African stories called “spider stories” came to exist.  Spider stories, are stories of how small defenseless men and animals become heroes.

Ananse, the Spider Man wants all the stories from the Sky God.  The Sky God agrees to hand over all the stories in his golden story box.  But first, he must capture a leopard, some hornets and a fairy.  Although Ananse is not big or strong, he is clever.  Ananse uses this to his advantage and successfully captures all three and is given the stories to spread to children around the world.

This story captures the essence of the phrase, “brains over brawn”.  Intelligence can often be more resourceful than physical strength.