Anansi and Company: Retold Jamaican Tales

A collection of short tales that evokes the spirit of the islands from which they originate. Each tale alternates with a riddle to create a delightful mix of fun and teaching similar to Aesop's Fables. Every reader will find their own favourite story, but mine has to be "Escaping Tiger" - the end was delightful. All the stories were engaging, though, and reminded me of nights spent around the fire in a boma, telling tales from the ancestors that contain guidance and wisdom no less profound for being told in simple, easy to understand language. The speech rhythms of the islands were there, adding depth to both stories and characters, but never distracting from the rich imagery and the essence of each story. The colourful illustrations also add to the good feeling this book leaves with one. ANANSI AND COMPANY make a splendid collection of Caribbean folklore, which is sure to appeal to children(and their parents!)across the world, for his antics and the gentle lessons they provide remind us that beneath our differences, we are all the same.

I received this book as an ARC, and it is quite a treat. I'd heard of Anansi the trickster spider before, but this was the first time I was exposed to a number of the tales. As the author says in her introduction, the Uncle Remus/Brer Rabbit stories that we may be familiar with are actually adaptations of Anansi stories. My favorite part of the book as a whole is the Caribbean voice, in such lines as "Brer Tiger, now you ketch Brer Monkey, you say you going to eat he?" I also like the interspersed riddles (answers given at the end), the appealing, colorful cover, the crafty look on Anansi's face, and the "gotta watch him like a hawk" look on Tiger's. The only thing that held me back from giving five stars was occasional lines of telling that seemed unnecessary, such as "Now Anansi and Tiger were friends who didn't trust each other." Otherwise, a fun, well-written multicultural tale for short-story lovers.

Again, as I have reviewed a book or two on Amazon, I'm a bit prejudiced, especially since the author is my own very dear sister and we grew up in the Virgin Islands learning many of these stories, through the most primordial medium - word of mouth. That my sister chose to add the riddles we heard as children makes this book even more delightful to me. The riddles are a reminder of a time when our basic frames of reference were far different from today, and they serve to remind us of that fact...as in, ordinary cooking happened over a coal pot, rather than over a gas or electrically powered stove. So what's a coal pot? A hibachi is close, but still not the same. Anyway, Bish, thanks for the wonderful childhood memories and I hope that others will live them with us through your book!!!

A charming collection of stories featuring Anansi the spider, who is a trickster of note! He is always trying to outsmart his friends in a battle of the wits. Sometimes he wins and sometimes he loses. The tone remains lighthearted and Anansi always seems to be upbeat as he prepares for, and then dives into, the next challenge. We meet various characters including Wee Pig, Tiger, Beetle, Monkey, Dog, Guinea-Hen, Fish and Mosquito. Besides providing great entertainment, each story has a moral/lesson.

Not an awesome collection, but they're mostly alright. I'd have preferred to keep the stories closer to the origins versions.

I very much enjoyed reading the Anansi tales as retold by Bish Denham. The lessons inherent in each tale were cleverly portrayed. The artwork accompanying the tales was very well done and graphically pleasing. I would recommend this book for all ages.

My children and I had the good fortune of reading Anansi and Company as ARC. Anansi, the spider, is an endearing fellow, full of mischief. This is one of the reasons why children (and some adults like me) identify with him so readily. What I especially enjoyed is some of the history behind these stories, the variety (why things are, chain stories, & trickery), and the riddles. The complete package is as delightful as it can be, perfect for a read-aloud. I gave it four stars only because I wanted more of the Caribbean flavor, less sanitization of the violence. But all in all, this is a wonderful introduction to Anansi for younger children.

Fun Anansi stories with a Caribbean flavor. the kids really enjoy them and I like reading them. It is nice having several stories in one book.

Awesome, kids love

Good old time tales

The Anansi stories take my mind back to junior school when the headmaster would hold storytelling in the library. In awe of my self and the other children would sit on the carpet listening to the Anansi adventures, fun and trickery and common sense learnt on the way. "When he wins he dances and sings for joy. When he looses, he shakes it off and keeps on living, a lesson all of us should take to heart." Anansi takes teach life lesson and why things are the why they are.

Great, they remind me of my childhood