A Story, a Story

Written and illustrated by Gail E. Haley

A spider must capture three cunning creatures to bring stories to the world.

5.5/7 Bookroo expert·4.0/5 Goodreads · 3,406 ratings

36 pages· 923 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud· AD590L

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Bookroo's summary

In a world where stories are locked away by Nyame, the Sky God, Ananse the Spider man dares to change fate. To win the tales for humanity, he must outwit Osebo the fierce leopard, Mmboro the fiery hornet, and Mmoatia the elusive fairy. Can Ananse's cunning and courage overcome these challenges, or will the stories remain forever untold? Dive into this vibrant retelling of an African folktale and discover the origins of storytelling.

From the publisher

Winner of the Caldecott Medal

Once, all the stories in the world belonged to Nyame, the Sky God. He kept them in a box beside his throne. But Ananse, the Spider man, wanted them – and caught three sly creatures to get them. This story of how we got our own stories to tell is adapted from an African folktale.

Awards

Caldecott Medal (1971)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (1970)

At a glance

Format: Paperback
Pages: 36
Words: 923
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD590L

Themes & topics

Books about Africa Books about culture Books about African folklore Books about trickster tales Books about storytelling

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.5

out of 7

5.5

“A Story A Story is a delightful book about the origins of stories. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful, and the story is fun, whimsical, and unpredictable. The book introducing some interesting names, like Mmboatia, and a traditional storytelling mechanic of repeating words or phrases for effect.”

Lemony Snickers

Trusted reviewer

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