First Palm Trees

Anancy Spiderman, the West Indian trickster, attempts to persuade the Sun-Spirit, Water-Spirit, Earth-Spirit, and Air-Spirit to create the world's first palm trees in order to collect a vast reward from the king.

Grade 2-4?In this Anancy story from the West Indies, the king's priest has a vision of a new kind of tree, so the monarch offers a rich reward to whomever makes the dream come true. Determined to win, Anancy Spiderman strikes a bargain with Sun-Spirit, who says that they must take on a partner, Water-Spirit. Water-Spirit insists on working with Earth-Spirit, who must include Air-Spirit. Anancy agrees reluctantly, although not before he tries vainly to convince each spirit to work for him alone. After a long wait, the trees appear. Anancy, along with 30 other contestants, claims to have summoned them but instead of a single reward, the king offers a feast for all. While Berry's writing is melodious and rhythmic, and he employs effective repetitive patterns, the ending falls a little flat. So much is made of the partnership among the elements and Anancy that readers may feel let down at the end. Otherwise, the story reads aloud well, though it's too long for storytime. Couch's acrylic wash paintings are delightful. Anancy Spiderman is human but is lent spidery attributes: his own eyes plus glasses, sunglasses, and half-moon reading glasses suggest a spider's eight eyes while his arms, legs, and draped clothing, in constant motion, create the illusion of eight limbs. The sultry colors and the various textures of the paintings evoke the tropics, although some seem a little murky. Most Anansi stories focus on the African character, so it is good to have more books about the Caribbean Anancy.?Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A prophet sees a vision of palm trees in a dream, and the king offers a great reward to anyone who can make them appear. Anancy Spiderman sees his opportunity, and goes to ask Sun-Spirit to make the palm trees. Sun-Spirit is succinct: ``My work makes other works work. And other works make my work also work.'' He sends Anancy off to plead with Water-Spirit, Earth-Spirit, and Air-Spirit; each requires the others. Anancy isn't happy about sharing the reward, but figures he can get out of it later. The king rewards them all with a banquet. The rich illustrations in acrylic, pencil, and washes use kente-cloth patterns and areas bleached or misted over to great effect. The figure of Anancy himself is done with a wonderful conceit: His spidery aspects are hinted at by his long legs, arms, and flying robes, and multiple eyes are suggested by sunglasses, round glasses, and reading glasses worn all at once. Berry (Don't Leave an Elephant to Go and Chase a Bird, 1996, etc.) uses a lovely West Indian lilt that sometimes lapses--``Earth-Spirit looked like a beautifully rounded pile of black, brown, and white diamonds''--but otherwise fully enlists readers with its rhythm and repetition. A rollicking, original read-aloud. (Picture book/folklore. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.