Monday, March 28, 2022

Possible Books for an ABC: Anansi Book Club

The NUMBERS here refer to the entry number in the Reader's Guide to African Folktales at the Internet Archive (free ebook!). By looking up the entries there, you can learn more about the authors and illustrators, and also find more related books, etc.

I've included here all the books that are 100 pages or less; the first set is books that are 50 pages or less, and then there is a section of the books that are between 50 and 100 pages in length. Sometimes the book is the main entry for the item, in which case you'll see the archive.org address; in a few cases, the book is a subentry, which means you'll see a hyperlinked title that goes to the Archive.

Of course there are even more wonderful African folktale books at the Archive; these are just the ones that made their way into the Reader's Guide.

BOOKS UNDER 50 PAGES: 75 books!

#2. Aardema, Verna. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Published in 1975. Pages: 27.
archive.org/details/whymosquitoesbuz00aard

#3. Aardema, Verna. Who’s in Rabbit’s House? A Masai Tale. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Published in 1979. Pages: 30.
archive.org/details/whosinrabbitshou0000aard

#4. Aardema, Verna. Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion: A Swahili Tale. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Published in 1989. Pages: 28.
archive.org/details/rabbitmakesmonke0000aard

#4. Aardema and Pinkney also collaborated on a book inspired by African riddles: Ji-Nongo-Nongo Means Riddles. Pages: 45.

#8. Achebe, Chinua and John Iroaganachi. How Leopard Got His Claws [East African Educational Publishers Sparrow Readers series]. Published in 1996. Pages: 25.
archive.org/details/howleopardgothis00ache

#9. African Women’s Network. Stories from Africa. Illustrated by the authors. Published in 2009. Pages: 35.
archive.org/details/horsestortoisesr0000unse

#15. Arkhurst, Joyce Cooper. More Adventures of Spider: West African Folk Tales. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Published in 1972. Pages: 48.
archive.org/details/moreadventuresof00arkh

#32. Berry, James. Don’t Leave an Elephant to Go and Chase a Bird. Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi. Published in 1996. Pages: 28.
archive.org/details/dontleaveelephan00berr

#38. Bryan, Ashley. The Ox of the Wonderful Horns. Pages: 49.

#38. Bryan, Ashley.  Beautiful Blackbird. Pages: 36.

#39. Bryan, Ashley. The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1999. Pages: 28.
archive.org/details/nighthasearsafri0000unse

#44. Cabral, Len. Anansi’s Narrow Waist: An African Folk Tale. Pages: 18.

#52. Collins, Stanley Harold. Ananse the Spider: Why Spiders Stay on the Ceiling [Sign Language Literature series]. Illustrated by Kathy Kifer, Dahna Solar and Charla Barnard. Published in 1997. Pages: 26.
archive.org/details/anansespiderwhys0000unse

#67. Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky by Blair Lent. Pages: 36.

#67. The Story of Lightning and Thunder by Ashley Bryan. Pages: 36.

#69. Diakité, Baba Wagué. The Hunterman and the Crocodile: A West African Folktale. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1997. Pages: 29.
archive.org/details/dkthntr

#70. Diakité, Baba Wagué. The Hatseller and the Monkeys: A West African Folktale. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1999. Pages: 29.
archive.org/details/hatsellermonkeys00diak 

#71. Diakité, Baba Wagué. Mee-An and the Magic Serpent: A Folktale from Mali. Illustrated by the author. Published in 2007. Pages: 30.
archive.org/details/meeanmagicserpen00diak

#72. Diop, Birago. Mother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale from Senegal. Translated by Rosa Guy and illustrated by John Steptoe. Published in 1981. Pages: 27.
archive.org/details/mothercrocodilem00diop

#74. Solomon Irein Wangboje also illustrated A Crocodile Has Me by the Leg: African Poems by Leonard Doob. Pages: 50.

#89. Gleeson, Brian. Koi and the Kola Nuts. Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. Published in 1995. Pages: 27.
archive.org/details/koikolanutsra00bria

#94. Grifalconi, Ann. The Village of Round and Square Houses. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1986. Pages: 31.
archive.org/details/villageofroundsq00grif

#94. Grifalconi, Ann. Darkness and the Butterfly. Pages: 46.

#94. Grifalconi, Ann. Osa’s Pride. Pages: 38.

96. Guirma, Frédéric. Princess of the Full Moon. Translated by John Garrett and illustrated by the author. Published in 1969. Pages: 30.
archive.org/details/princessoffullmo0000guir

#98. Haley, Gail. A Story, A Story: An African Tale. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1970. Pages: 32.
archive.org/details/storystory0000hale

#104. Muriel and Tom Feelings: Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book. Pages: 50.

#104. Muriel and Tom Feelings: JMoja Means One: A Swahili Counting Book. Pages: 44.

#106. Hofmeyr, Dianne. The Magic Bojabi Tree. Illustrated by Piet Grobler. Published in 2013. Pages: 26.
archive.org/details/magicbojabitree0000hofm_a3i2

#115. Kimmel, Eric. Rimonah of the Flashing Sword: A North African Tale. Illustrated by Omar Rayyan. Published in 1995. Pages: 31.
archive.org/details/rimonahofflashin00kimm

#115. Kimmel, Eric. Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock. Pages: 36.

#115. Kimmel, Eric. Anansi Goes Fishing. Pages: 38.

#115. Kimmel, Eric. Anansi and the Talking Melon. Pages: 34.

#115. Kimmel, Eric. Anansi’s Party Time. Pages: 34.

#115. Kimmel, Eric. Anansi and the Magic Stick. Pages: 42.

#119. Laird, Elizabeth and Abba Aregawi Wolde Gabriel. The Miracle Child: A Story from Ethiopia. With illustrations from an 18th-century Ethiopian manuscript. Published in 1985. Pages: 30.
archive.org/details/miraclechildstor0000lair

#126. Lilly, Melinda. Warrior Son of a Warrior Son: A Masai Tale [African Tales and Myths series]. Illustrated by Charles Reasoner. Published in 1998. Pages: 29.
archive.org/details/warriorsonofwarr0000lill

#126. Lilly, Melinda. Wanyana and Matchmaker Frog: A Bagandan Tale. Pages: 38.

#126. Lilly, Melinda. Kwian and the Lazy Sun: a San Myth. Pages: 38.

#126. Lilly, Melinda. Spider and His Son Find Wisdom: An Akan Tale. Pages: 38. 

#126. Lilly, Melinda. Zimani’s Drum: A Malawian Tale. Pages: 38.

#126. illustrated by Charles Reasoner: Emerald Tree: A Story from Africa. Pages: 34. 

#126. illustrated by Charles Reasoner: The Golden Flower: A Story from Egypt. Pages: 34.

#136. McDermott, Gerald. Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1986. Pages: 37.
archive.org/details/anansispider00gera

#136. McDermott, Gerald. The Magic Tree: A Tale from the Congo. Pages: 34.

#136. McDermott, Gerald. Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa. Pages: 46.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper! A Maasai Tale. Illustrated by Barbara Spurll. Published in 1991. Pages: 30.
archive.org/details/rhinosforlunchel0000moll

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. The Orphan Boy. Pages: 38.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. The Flying Tortoise: An Igbo Story. Pages: 38.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. The Princess Who Lost Her Hair: An Akamba Legend. Pages: 34.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. Ananse’s Feast: An Ashanti Tale. Pages: 34.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. The King and the Tortoise. Pages: 38.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. Kitoto the Mighty. Pages: 38.

#143. Mollel, Tololwa. A Promise to the Sun. Pages: 36.

#143 Verna Aardema. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. Pages: 34.

#144. Muluka, Barrack. Why Dog Left the Forest [East African Educational Publishers Sparrow Readers series]. Illustrated. Published in 1996. Pages: 24.
archive.org/details/whydogleftforest0000mulu

#145. Musgrove, Margaret. Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Published in 1976. Pages: 28.
archive.org/details/ashantitozuluafr00musg_0

#145. Musgrove, Margaret. The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth. Pages: 38.

#149. Nyabongo, Akiki. Winds and Lights. Illustrated by B. Hewitt. Published in 1939. Pages: 37.
archive.org/details/nyabongo-african

#152. Olaleye, Isaac. In the Rainfield: Who Is the Greatest? Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi. Published in 2000. Pages: 31.
archive.org/details/inrainfieldwhois0000olal

#152. Olaleye, Isaac. Lake of the Big Snake. Pages: 38.

#152. Olaleye, Isaac. Bitter Bananas. Pages: 38.

#152. Olaleye, Isaac. Bikes for Rent!. Pages: 38.

#157. Paye, Won-Ldy and Margaret Lippert. Why Leopard Has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. Published in 1999. Pages: 50.
archive.org/details/whyleopardhasspo0000paye

#157. Paye, Won-Ldy. The Talking Vegetables. Pages: 38.

#157. Paye, Won-Ldy. Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile. Pages: 32.

#157. Paye, Won-Ldy. Head, Body, Legs. Pages: 34.

#172. Schwartz, Howard and Barbara Rush. The Sabbath Lion: A Jewish Folktale from Algeria. Illustrated by Stephen Fieser. Published in 1992. Pages: 29.
archive.org/details/sabbathlionjewis0000schw

#178. Skivington, Janice. How Anansi Obtained the Sky God’s Stories: An African Folktale from the Ashanti Tribe [Adventures in Storytelling series]. Based on a story by Donna Washington. Published in 1991. Pages: 47.
archive.org/details/howanansiobtaine0000skiv
plus
The Baboon’s Umbrella: An African Folktale. Pages: 30.

#181. Steptoe, John. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1991. Pages: 28.
archive.org/details/mufarosbeautiful00step_1

#186. Swann, Brian. The House With No Door: African Riddle-Poems. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. Published in 1998. Pages: 29.
archive.org/details/housewithnodoor00swan

#187. Tadjo, Véronique. Lord of the Dance. Pages: 30.

#187. Tadjo, Véronique. Mamy Wata and the Monster. Pages: 26.

#188. Tchana, Katrin. Sense Pass King: A Story from Cameroon. Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. Published in 2002. Pages: 29.
archive.org/details/sensepasskingsto00tcha

#199. Wilson, Beth. The Great Minu. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Published in 1974. Pages: 28.
archive.org/details/greatminu0000wils


BOOKS UNDER 100 PAGES (but over 50): 40 books!

#1. Aardema, Verna. Behind the Back of the Mountain: Black Folktales from Southern Africa. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Published in 1973. Pages: 86.
archive.org/details/behindbackofmoun0000unse

#5. Aardema, Verna. Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa. Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. Published in 1994. Pages: 88.
archive.org/details/misosoonceuponti00aard

#14. Arkhurst, Joyce Cooper. The Adventures of Spider: West African Folk Tales. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Published in 1964. Pages: 58.
archive.org/details/adventuresofspid0000arkh

#17. Atkinson, Norman. The Broken Promise, and Other Traditional Fables from Zimbabwe. Illustrated by Tali Geva-Bradley. Published in 1989. Pages: 88.
archive.org/details/brokenpromiseoth00atki

#18. Badoe, Adwoa. The Pot of Wisdom: Ananse Stories. Illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité. Published in 2001. Pages: 64.
archive.org/details/potofwisdom00adwo

#19. Barbosa, Rogério Andrade. African Animal Tales. Translated by Feliz Guthrie and Illustrated by Ciça Fittipaldi. Published in 1993. Pages: 63.
archive.org/details/africananimaltal00barb

#37. Bryan, Ashley. The Adventures of Aku. Illustrated by the author. Published in 1976. Pages: 71.
archive.org/details/adventuresofakuo00brya

#38. Bryan, Ashley. Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum. Pages: 86.

#38. Bryan, Ashley. Lion and the Ostrich Chicks. Pages: 86.

#65. Davis, Jennifer. The Stolen Water and Other Stories: Traditional Tales from Namibia. Illustrated by Libby Costandius. Published in 1993. Pages: 84.
archive.org/details/stolenwaterothe00davi

#74. Dorliae, Peter. Animals Mourn for Da Leopard, and Other West African Tales. Illustrated by Solomon Irein Wangboje. Published in 1970. Pages: 69.
archive.org/details/animalsmournford00dorl

#93. Green, Lila. Tales from Africa [The World Folktale Library series]. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and with an introduction by Moritz Jagendorf. Published in 1979. Pages: 96.
archive.org/details/talesfromafrica0000gree

#97. Habte-Mariam, Mesfin. The Rich Man and the Singer: Folktales from Ethiopia. Illustrated by Christine Price. Published in 1971. Pages: 86.
archive.org/details/richmansing00mesf

#103. Heady, Eleanor. Jambo, Sungura! Tales from East Africa. Illustrated by Robert Frankenberg. Published in 1965. Pages: 95.
archive.org/details/jambosunguratale00head

#104. Heady, Eleanor. When the Stones Were Soft: East African Fireside Tales. Illustrated by Tom Feelings. Published in 1968. Pages: 94.
archive.org/details/whenstoneswereso00head

#107. Holladay, Virginia. Bantu Tales. Illustrated by Rocco Negri and with a foreword by Louise Crane. Published in 1970. Pages: 95.
archive.org/details/bantutales00holl

#110. Jablow, Alta. Gassire’s Lute: A West African Epic. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Published in 1971. Pages: 64.
archive.org/details/gassireslutewest0000jabl

#116. Kituku, Vincent Muli Wa. East African Folktales from the Voice of Mukamba [World Storytelling series]. Illustrated by Kelly Matthews. Published in 1997. Pages: 95.
archive.org/details/eastafricanfolkt00kitu

#118. Laird, Elizabeth. When the World Began: Stories Collected in Ethiopia. Illustrated by Yosef Kebede, Emma Harding, Grizelda Holderness, and Lydia Monks. Published in 2000. Pages: 96.
archive.org/details/whenworldbeganst0000lair_v6u7

#120. Laird, Elizabeth. The Ogress and the Snake, and Other Stories from Somalia. Illustrated by Shelley Fowles. Published in 2009. Pages: 96.
archive.org/details/ogresssnakeother0000lair

#123. Leslau, Charlotte and Wolf Leslau. African Folk Tales. Illustrated by Grisha Dotzenko. Published in 1963. Pages: 62.
archive.org/details/africanfolktales00lesl

#124. Lester, Julius. How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? Illustrated by David Shannon. Published in 1989. Pages: 72.
archive.org/details/howmanyspotsdoes00lest

#134. Mbugua, Kioi wa. Inkishu: Myths and Legends of the Maasai. With photographs by Adrian Arbib and illustrations by Kang’ara wa Njambi, Samwel Ngoje, Kahare Miano, and Godfrey Nyotumba. Published in 1994. Pages: 73.
archive.org/details/inkishumythslege00kioi

#139. Medlicott, MaryThe River That Went to the Sky: Twelve Tales by African Storytellers. Illustrated by Ademola Akintola. Published in 1995. Pages: 96.
archive.org/details/riverthatwenttos0000unse

#140. Mhlophe, Gcina. Stories of Africa. Illustrated by various artists. Published in 2003. Pages: 53.
archive.org/details/storiesofafrica0000mhlo

#141. Mhlophe, Gcina. African Tales: A Barefoot Collection. Illustrated by Rachel Griffin. Published in 2018. Pages: 95.
archive.org/details/africantalesbare0000mhlo

#146. Naidoo, Beverley. The Great Tug of War and Other Stories. Illustrated by Piet Grobler. Published in 2006. Pages: 95.
archive.org/details/greattugofwaroth0000naid

#146. Naidoo, Beverley. Aesop’s Fables. Pages: 52.

#154. Opoku, Kofi Asare. Speak to the Winds: Proverbs from Africa. Illustrated by Dindga McCannon. Published in 1975. Pages: 63.
archive.org/details/speaktowindsprov00opok

#155. Orlando, Louise. African Folktales and Activities. Illustrated by Michelle Hill. Published in 1995. Pages: 80.
archive.org/details/africanfolktales0000orla

#162. Pitcher, Diana. Tokoloshi: African Folk-Tales. Illustrated by Meg Rutherford. Published in 1981. Pages: 64.
archive.org/details/tokoloshiafrican0000pitc

#166. Robinson, Adjai. Singing Tales of Africa. Illustrated by Christine Price. Published in 1974. Pages: 80.
archive.org/details/singingtalesofaf0000robi

#174. Seid, Joseph Brahim. Told by Starlight in Chad. Translated by Karen Haire Hoenig. Published in 2007. Pages: 71.
archive.org/details/toldbystarlighti0000seid

#176. Serwadda, W. Moses. Songs and Stories from Uganda. Translated by Hewitt Pantaleoni and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Published in 1974. Pages: 83.
archive.org/details/songsstoriesfrom00serw

#183. Strong, Polly. African Tales: Folklore of the Central African Republic. Illustrated by Rodney Wimer. Published in 1992. Pages: 95.
archive.org/details/isbn_9781878893154

#184. Stuart, Forbes. The Magic Horns: Folk Tales from Africa. Illustrated by Charles Keeping. Published in 1976. Pages: 93.
archive.org/details/magichornsfolkta00stua

#189. Tembo, Mwizenge. Legends of Africa. Illustrated with photographs. Published in 1999. Pages: 96.
archive.org/details/legendsofafrica00temb

#192. Tucker, Archie. Disappointed Lion and Other Stories from the Bari of Central Africa. Illustrated by John Farleigh. Published in 1937. Pages: 97.
archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.36412

#195. Washington, Donna. A Pride of African Tales. Illustrated by James Ransome. Published in 2004. Pages: 70.
archive.org/details/prideofafricanta00wash

#196. Waters, Mary Waterton. Cameos From the Kraal. Illustrated by a Xhosa artist. Published in 1926. Pages: 58.  
archive.org/details/cameosfromkraalw00wateiala

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