When a woodcutter finds a pot that magically duplicates anything that is placed inside it, he and his wife are delighted until the wife accidentally falls in.

Poor Hannah never has enough to eat, and can't believe her luck when she is given a magic porridge pot. But when a greedy boy steals it, is he in for more than he bargained for? Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton, specially written for children just starting to read alone. Includes audio. "Crack reading and make confident and enthusiastic readers with this fantastic reading programme." - Julia Eccleshare

This book comprises a collection of popular folk stories from Guyana and other countries of the Caribbean region. The starring character in all of them is Nansi whose exploits form part of the folklore of these countries. "Nansi", the starring character in all the stories, is also popularly known as "Anansi". But in Guyana and some other Caribbean countries, Nansi, the shortened form of this name, is usually preferred. Nansi, who is a spider but who sometimes takes the qualities or form of a man, or even half-man and half-spider is originally the chief trickster among the Ashanti and Akan peoples of West Africa. When some of these peoples were forcibly brought to the Caribbean and the American continent as slaves from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, they also brought with them the tales of the exploits of Nansi, who was, and still is, variably regarded as a folk hero, a cunning trickster and also sometimes as a fool. The stories in this book are no different to the ones told in West Africa or other parts of the Caribbean and the south-east United States, even though the plots and the characters involved may vary slightly. They certainly provide tangible evidence that much of the oral traditions of people of African origin in the Americas remain intact, despite the historical trauma caused by centuries of slavery. Nansi is always outwitting the forest creatures, humans, his own family, the community in which he lives, and sometimes even deities. His character assumes various patterns. In some cases he is regarded as wise, but he can be greedy, cunning, gluttonous, stupid and dishonest. Despite these varying characteristics, Nansi is generally admired for the manner in which he outwits others. In Guyana and other countries of the English-speaking Caribbean, particularly in rural areas, the exploits of Nansi are related by older people as a form of entertainment at wakes and other community gatherings. The stories are now no longer exclusive to people of West African ancestry, since people of all ethnic origins in the these countries regard Nansi as their folk hero as well. Interestingly, all stories told at these informal community gatherings are regarded as "Nansi stories" even though Nansi may not be a character in any of them. The tales of Nansi are very imaginative and they are so embedded in the minds of people of Guyana and the Caribbean that sometimes any story that is far-fetched and hard to believe is dismissed as a "Nansi story."

Part of the Ladybird "First Favourite Tales" series, this book contains lots of funny rhythm and rhyme to delight young children. It is suitable for 2-4 year olds.

A demon in the guise of a magic pot outwits a greedy, rich man and brings wealth and happiness to a poor old fellow and his wife.

"Good evening my dear boys and girls, as well as their parents and grandparents.There are many different and interesting stories out there in the world, and I amabout to tell you yet another one. Whether this really happened, I am not sure, nor am I sure, where I heard it. It could have all been a dream. However this happened, I will begin my story..."

Kwaku Ananse stories are folk tales from Ghana. Ananse is a Twi word and it means spider. Anansesem simply means stories about Ananse.