The Pot of Wisdom: Ananse stories
What’s inside...
One of the major figures in African folklore is the round-bellied trickster-spider Ananse, who outwits enemies large and small. With The Pot of Wisdom, a wider audience can enjoy these delightful tales. Adwoa Badoe's witty retellings and Baba Wague Diakite's colorful images bring Ananse and his amusing — and instructive — adventures to life.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-12
Length
64 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes Ananse a clever character? Can you think of a time you had to use your cleverness to solve a problem?
Ananse stories often have a moral at the end. Which story did you find most meaningful, and why?
How do the other characters in the stories react to Ananse's actions? Do you think they learned something from him, and what could it be?
If you could be a character in one of the Ananse stories, who would you be and what would you do differently?
How do you think the stories would change if Ananse wasn’t trying to trick the other characters? Can you think of a different ending for one of the stories?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think beyond the story by asking them to relate the scenarios to their personal experiences or to imagine alternative endings.
Highlight the moral lessons embedded in the stories and discuss how these lessons can be applied in everyday life.
Foster empathy by discussing how the actions of Ananse affect the other characters, prompting your child to consider different perspectives.
Stimulate creativity by encouraging your child to come up with their own trickster tale, thinking about what character they would use and the plot they would create.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of cleverness and wit
Explanation: The stories of Ananse often demonstrate how he uses his intellect and cunning to outsmart others and solve problems.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of using their brains over brawn to navigate challenges and conflicts in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: The consequences of greed
Explanation: Ananse’s adventures sometimes show him being greedy which leads to mishaps or losses, teaching that greed can backfire.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to be mindful of the impact of greed and to practice sharing and generosity instead.
Example Lesson: The strength of teamwork
Explanation: In some stories, Ananse achieves goals by working together with other characters, highlighting the benefits of cooperation.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to collaborate effectively with siblings, friends, and classmates to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Respect for all creatures
Explanation: Ananse stories often place equal importance on all characters, regardless of size or strength, conveying a moral of respecting everyone.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to respect people from all walks of life and to value each individual's contributions.
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness
Explanation: Ananse often uses available resources creatively to his advantage, showing the power of resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this by using creative thinking to use what they have at hand to solve problems or create games.