Oh, Kojo! How Could You! By Verna Aardema
In this African tale an old man named Ananse is a trickster. One day Tutuola goes to the river and asks the spirit of the river for a son. He warns her that the son will not want to work but will one day repay her. She goes home and is given a son. One day the son tells his mom he needs some gold because he wants to go to the market. On the way he meets Ananse and buys a dog from him. The second time Ananse tricks him into buying a cat. The final time he tricks him into buying a dove. On the way back home the dove tells him she is the queen mother of the chief of her village. If he will return her then her son will reward him. He takes the dove home and the son gives him a magic ring. He wishes for a village and people. Then he wishes for food to feed the people. Ananse is mad and believes the ring should be his. He steals it back. Kojo send the cat and dog to get the ring back. He is warned that Ananse will try to poison the animals. The cat doesn’t follow directions, but the cat does and returns the ring to Kojo. That is why cats are honored to this day. ( )

Retelling of an Ashanti folktale relating how a young man named Kojo finally gets the better of the tricky Anansi.

When a lonely woman named Tutuola asks the River Spirit for a child in this Ashanti folktale, her wish is granted, and a magical son named Kojo is born. A lazy boy, who would rather spend his mother's gold than work, Kojo bargains three times with Ananse the trickster, bartering for a dog who can fetch firewood, a cat who can catch rats, and a dove who can find snails. Naturally, these wonders don't quite turn out as expected, but the dove does bring Kojo a magic ring that grants wishes. Will his newfound prosperity last, or will Kojo once again fall victim to the wily Ananse...?

Taken from R.S. Rattray's 1930 collection, Akan-Ashanti Folk-tales, this tale was originally retold by Aardema in her 1960 picture book, The Na Of Wa. This version of the story is illustrated by Marc Brown, creator of the popular Arthur series, and is sure to please young folklore lovers who like to read of West Africa's clever trickster-figure, Anansi. ( )

The story has three sections: Ananse's tricks on Kojo, Kojo's attempt to outwit him to win the Golden ring, and cat and dog's journey to rescue the ring from a girl who tricks Kojo. This is not the first of the African tales I've read that starts one way and ends up resolving an entirely different conflict.
Marc Brown's pastel watercolors are fun and expressive, a clear highlight of the story.

I really liked the illustrations in this book. The colors and style are different from other picture books I have read. I loved the story and the moral behind the story. Kids would like it because the story is interesting and makes you want to keep reading and find out what happens.