Brother Anansi and the Cattle Ranch

When Tiger wins the lottery, Anansi convinces him to become his partner and buy a cattle ranch. Small but clever, Anansi outwits the bigger Tiger and ends up with all the cattle. Anansi is a well-known trickster figure found throughout West African and Caribbean folklore. This story combines contemporary elements such as a lottery with the traditional themes of the trickster.

James de Sauza is a carpenter, fisherman, and church leader from Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua. In Pearl Lagoon, the oral tradition is very much alive, and James tells his tales in a version of Creole English, the language of the people, which has African roots.

Stephen Von Mason is a painter, printmaker, and fine art framer who was born in South Bend, Indiana. His work has been exhibited internationally. He lives and works in Oakland, California.
 

Themes: Folklore and Fables

"A charming victory of brain power over brawn." —Publishers Weekly

"Stephen Von Mason's illustrations have an exaggerated linear quality and gorgeous warm colors that swim before the reader's eyes." —Hungry Mind Review

"A modern-day variant of a centuries-old folklore tradition with roots in West Africa . . . Brightly contrasting illustrations in a folk-art style." —Parenting