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Lazy Anansi
African Storybook and Jane Taylor
Wiehan de Jager
English
Anansi is a lazy spider.
He loves food, but he is too lazy to cook.
Anansi visits Rabbit and asks to share his vegetables.
"Yes. Help me with stirring," says Rabbit.

But Anansi is lazy.
"I will come back later," says Anansi.
Anansi ties some web around his leg and to Rabbit's pot.
"Pull the web when the greens are ready," says Anansi.
"Monkeys, can I share your beans?"

"Yes. Help us with chopping."
"I will come back," says Anansi.

He ties more web.
"Warthog, can I share your potatoes?"

"Yes. Help me with preparing."
"I will come back," says Anansi.

He ties more web.
Soon, each of Anansi's 8 legs is tied to a pot.
Anansi feels a pull on leg 2.

Then leg 3.
All 8 legs are being pulled!

"Stop pulling!" cries Anansi.
No one hears Anansi crying.

The webs break one by one.
Anansi's legs stretched!

And so all spiders have long thin legs.
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Lazy Anansi
Author - Ghanaian folktale
Adaptation - African Storybook and Jane Taylor
Illustration - Wiehan de Jager
Language - English
Level - First words
© African Storybook Initiative 2014
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
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  • Translations and adaptations
    • Sharariitii Dadhabaa
      Afaan Oromo (Translation)
    • ሰነፉ አናንሲ
      Amharic (Translation)
    • Cacá nfuŋfanayar
      Anii (Adaptation)
    • Nyope Inonzi Anansi
      ChiShona (Translation)
    • Lazy Anansi
      English (Original)
    • Anansi, La Fainéante
      French (Translation)
    • Anansi Raggo
      Hausa (Nigeria) (Translation)
    • Ivila elingu-Anansi
      isiZulu (Translation)
    • Anansi na maau matheke nyanya
      Kikamba (Translation)
    • Gitagangurirwa w'umunebwe
      Kinyarwanda (Translation)
    • Kwa nini buibui ana miguu myembamba
      Kiswahili (Translation)
    • Anansi mvivu
      Kiswahili (Translation)
    • Nabbubi Omunafu
      Luganda (Translation)
    • Lwaki Nabbubi Erina Obugulu Munaana Obutono
      Luganda (Translation)
    • E`yo Ebio Ma Pa Yin I Ovuzu Izia Izia Aro Ri
      Lugbarati (Translation)
    • Ebìó Òvʉ́ó Rʉ Rɨ̀
      Lugbarati (Official) (Translation)
    • Lwashiina Wanaasi Nabubi Ali Ni Buukyele Shinaane Buunyelele
      Lumasaaba (Translation)
    • Anansi Omunafu
      Lunyole (Translation)
    • Munansi Omunafu
      Lusoga (Translation)
    • Ananiiya omugayaavu
      Lusoga (Translation)
    • Káínyoo Peê Éátâ Anansi Inkejék Ísíet Rónkéní
      Maa (Translation)
    • Eyakar Anansi Ng’Akejen Ngakan-Kauni Nadiim
      Ng’aturkana (Translation)
    • Anansi Nakalany
      Ng’aturkana (Translation)
    • Esichira Anansi Naba Norulenje Orutiti Munane
      Oluwanga (Translation)
    • Anansi omutofu
      Oluwanga (Translation)
    • Anansi Preguiçoso
      Portuguese (Translation)
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