Review: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, Eric A. Reteller. Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock. New York: Holiday House, 1988. ISBN 0-8234-0689-X

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

Anansi is a tricky little spider who discovers a magical rock and uses it to her advantage in order to play tricks on her friends. One by one, she invites her fellow animals for a walk on a hot day and takes them to the rock that magically knocks out those who says the magic words "Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock". "KPOM!", down they go, and while her friends are passed out, Anansi goes back to their home and steals their food. Little did she know, Little Bush Deer had been watching all along and decided to do something about it. Little Bush Deer tricks Anansi into saying the magic words herself, and gathers all the animals to collect their stolen goods at her house. Somehow, Anansi still did not learn her lesson and was still playing tricks.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the very beginning, the reader is able to see that Anansi, the spider enjoys playing tricks on her friends. She has a selfish and greedy idea which she plans to carry out in order to take advantage of the other animals. Little did she know, there was someone watching. At first, readers can only speculate the reason for a sweet little deer to only show up in the background of Stevens' vivid and colorful illustrations, but it is not until the end that Little Bush Deer comes in to save the day and teach Anansi a lesson by outsmarting the spider and returning all the good to its rightful owners. Though readers would hope Anansi had learned the golden rule of treating others the way you  would want to be treated, in the end, she is still up to her old tricks.

This title, as well as many other books about this little African folktale figure is very well know for always having a valuable lesson to be learned. The story reflects a culture where there is an abundance of animals and land, a beautiful and colorful forest with fruits and vegetables on which to feed, to teach the reader about the surroundings and climate of Africa. In many instances in this tale, Anansi and other characters mention how "terribly hot" the day is, making the offered "walk in the cool forest" sound appealing to her friends. This story is fun, great for a read aloud, and leaves readers on the edge of their seats as the suspense builds of what is to come between the protagonist and the other animals.

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From School Library Journal: “Although no specific source is given, Kimmel has retold a West African tale (said to be known in Caribbean culture). The text is rhythmic, nicely building suspense to the inevitable conclusion.”

From Bulletin of the Center of Childrens Books: "This book combines Stevens' knack for drawing funny animals with Kimmel's sense of rhythmic storytelling. . . . Stevens has cleverly avoided cartooning the spider's face and opted instead for emphasizing his very expressive set of eight black legs. The stylized exaggeration of words and pictures is just wry enough to avoid cuteness and maintain the mischief of a true trickster tale."

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other Anansi books to read such as:

•                      Anansi and the Talking Melon. ISBN 0823411672

•                      Anansi Goes Fishin. ISBN 0823410226

•                      Anansi and the Magic Stick. ISBN 0823417638

Gather other Eric A. Kimmel books to read such as:

•                      The Runaway Tortilla. ISBN 1941821693

•                      The Three Little Tamales. ISBN 0761455191

•                      Even Higher!: A Rosh Hashanah Story. ISBN 0823422984

Use when learning about spiders, their bodies, habitats and how they survive

Use when learning about soil and rocks in Science
Find more ideas for activities using the Anansi collection HERE