Joyce Cooper Arkhurst

Come sit by the fire and listen as the storyteller brings to life a favorite character from West African folktale---the mischievious and clever spider. Through tales of how he got a thin waist to why he lives on ceilings, spider is sure to delight readers with his outrageous wit and boldness. Presents six tales about Spider, including those which explain how he got a thin waist and a bald head and why he lives in ceilings and dark corners.

398.2

Summary: This book has 3 short African Folktales about spiders. The stories explain why spiders have a bald head, thin waists, and live in ceilings. Illustrations are appropriate for the story and culture and add to the story.

Reflection: Young readers will be able to read this short chapter book on their own and learn about some folktales from West Africa. There is a short author's note explaining that spider is a favorite character in the oral traditions of West Africa.

3 traditional spider tales -How Spider got a Bald Head, How Spider got a Thin Waist, Why Spider Lives in Ceilings in a reader format.
Note: Jerry Pinkey did the original illustrations in 1964 but the cover is an updated version. Interesting to see his different styles.