Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom

5 pages · 2 min · ages 4+

Based on: West African Folk Tale (Akan)

Anansi has a big pot. He has a clay pot. He gathers all the wisdom. He puts wisdom inside it. It is very heavy now. He wants to keep it. He wants a safe place. He looks at a tree.

The tree is very tall. Anansi ties the pot. He ties it to his front. It sits on his tummy. He starts to climb up. He uses his tiny legs. The pot gets in the way. He cannot reach the tree.

Anansi tries to climb again. He slips and he slides. He goes down, down, down. He tries one more time. He slips and he slides. He goes down, down, down. The pot is too big. This is very funny work.

His son Ntikuma watches him. Ntikuma is a clever boy. He smiles at his father. He has a good idea. Put it on your back. Tie the pot behind you. Then you can climb high. Anansi thinks about this idea.

Anansi moves the big pot. Oops! The big pot falls. It breaks on the ground. The wisdom flies everywhere. It goes to everyone now. All the people have wisdom. Children are very wise too. Anansi is very happy now.