Anansi and Herald, the Fowl-cock

Anansi, the spider, is sharing a tree with Herald, the fowl-cock (cockerel). Herald's early morning crowing makes Anansi angry and he asks Herald to move to another tree. Herald refuses to do this and thereafter misfortune follows him. This is an illustrated story of 3,000 words. It is divided into four chapters of equal length. Set on the fictional Isle of Spice the illustrations are colorful and detailed and capture the essence of an island in the Caribbean and the emotions of the protagonist in this battle of wills. Stoute explodes the myth that fowl-cocks crow just before dawn and offers an intriguing explanation for their crowing at all hours of the night and foreday morning. Silva-Freimane's illustrations depicting the animals and landscapes of the Caribbean go beyond a physical rendition. They are funny and emotionally expressive.Recommended reading level. Read Together: Ages 5 - 10; Read Alone: Ages 7 - 10.