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Anansi is walking in the forest when he stumbles upon a magic rock. When he says the words 'Isn't this a strange, moss-covered rock!' he falls asleep and this gives him an idea - if only he can trick the other animals into saying the magic words he'll be able to find their food and eat it. The illustrated text is available as downloadable pdf files and the teaching resources include a sequencing activity and outline drawings to print and colour in.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock - Part one

One evening, Anansi was out walking in the forest when he tripped over something.

Hhmmm…it was a large rock…covered in deep-green moss.

‘What a surprise,’ said Anansi. ‘Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock!’

Crash! Bang! At the very same moment Anansi dropped on all eight of his legs to the forest floor. His eyes rolled and everything went black.

Anansi slept and slept and slept and when he finally awoke the sun was shining. Anansi scratched his head. There could only be one explanation. He must have been asleep for a whole night and a day!

‘What happened?’ Anansi muttered, as he tried to remember. ‘The rock caught my attention, then I said: "Isn't this a strange, moss-covered rock!"’

Crash! Bang! It happened again! Anansi’s eight legs flopped under him and he slept and slept and slept.

When Anansi woke this time he knew exactly what had happened. ‘The rock is magical! Every time someone says those words - which I don’t dare repeat - they fall into a deep sleep lasting one whole night and a day!’

Suddenly he felt rather excited. ‘Ah, ha! This gives me an idea for how I can get a free meal! And I can't wait to try it!’

Anansi went in search of Snake and found him curled up by some stones guarding his dinner – a lovely, juicy pineapple.

‘Good day, Snake! I know how much you like to shelter from the sun. Come for a walk with me in the cool, dark forest!’

Snake felt a bit suspicious – after all, everyone knew about Anansi and his tricks! But still, he liked the idea of a walk in the cool forest. So he replied: ‘I will indeed come with you!’

Anansi led Snake through the forest…all the way to the magical rock.

‘What’s this?' he said to Snake.

Snake took a good look. ‘Isn't this a strange, moss-covered rock!’

Crash! Bang! As soon as the words came from Snake’s mouth he flopped down fast asleep! Anansi knew Snake wouldn’t wake up for one whole night and a day…and that gave him plenty of time to go back to Snake’s home and gobble up his pineapple.

When Snake finally woke up, Anansi was nowhere to be seen. And how Snake hissed with anger as he returned home to find he'd been tricked!

Anansi was delighted! But he was still hungry and couldn't wait to play his trick again. So this time he went in search of Lion…and found her resting under a bush, a pile of bananas between her paws.

‘Oh Lion, it is hot today, isn't it? But I have found a lovely cool place where you can rest in comfort. Come for a walk with me in the forest.’

Lion too was a bit suspicious…but she replied: ‘I will indeed come with you!’

Anansi led Lion through the forest…all the way to the magical rock. ‘What’s this?' he said to Lion.

Lion took a good look. ‘Isn't this a strange, moss-covered rock!’

Crash! Bang! As soon as the words came from Lion’s mouth she fell down, fast asleep…giving Anansi plenty of time to go back to her bush and gobble up her bananas.

One whole night and day later when Lion woke up Anansi was nowhere to be seen. And how Lion roared with anger when she returned home to find her bananas gone.

Of course - Anansi was delighted! The trick was working so well! But he was still hungry…so who should he trick next?