The trickster is on a mission! He is most certainly cunning and clever, but is Kweku Ananse the most clever of all? Well, he thinks so and in Today‘s Water, he sets out to prove it! Along the way, we find out why the sky is far from the ground and how it came about that all stories are Ananse stories. Enjoy this collection of folktales from the Asante people of Ghana, featuring Kweku Ananse, who is sometimes a man and sometimes a spider. keywords: African Folktales, Ananse the spider, Ananse story, trickster, Ghana, Anansi

* Why do crickets have black teeth? * Why do chickens have beaks? * Why do spiders have small waists? The short answer is . . . Ananse did it! You can find the long answers to these and other intriguing questions in this collection of West African folktales. All twelve stories feature Kweku Ananse, the trickster, who is sometimes a man and sometimes a spider. Follow along as he works his mischief. On the way, you'll discover why spiders look the way they do, why termites are so angry and what happened to the crocodile’s ears.

If you were sitting in a tree and could only come down for someone you would like to marry, who would you pick? * The best dancer? * The very rich one? * Or the very strong and fearsome one, who promises to cut off the head of anyone who bothers you? Decisions, decisions! Monka was the girl in the tree. Who did she pick? Did she even pick? And, why on earth did anyone think that this was a good way to pick a husband? Read Monka's story and other tales of courtship and love. I have to warn you though, if you're looking for "lovey-dovey, happily-ever-after" stories, these are not it.

From talking yam tubers and polite little boys who throw up money, to the deliciously scary story of a disrespectful little girl who sets out to find something to see, this second collection of stories in the African Fireside Classics series has something for everyone.

Who wants to marry a trickster? Ananse is looking for a wife and it is no easy matter. He is at his worst! He lies, he cheats and behaves badly. If you are the tiniest bit romantic, these stories are not for you. In fact, children start crying for nothing, jealousy spreads around the world, etc. etc. Now, if you have ever wondered what a lazy, greedy and selfish trickster wants most in a wife—it is not brains, not brawn or even beauty. Nope! According to Ananse, the ideal wife should have no mouth! No eating, no speaking! Ha! How does that work out for him?

All stories belonged to God, until Ananse paid a very high price for them. How did he do it?

What can you get for a grain of corn if you are as crafty as Ananse?

What happens when Ananse sets out to prove that he is the most clever person in the world?

Kweku Ananse is not exactly known for favoring hard work. In fact, he's better known for creatively avoiding hard work. So, why would the famously lazy trickster organize a work day?

Lizard asks Ananse for food and gets. . .what? A haircut! Now, how is that helpful?