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Anansi and theTalking WatermelonA Reading A–Z Level O Leveled BookWord Count: 876LEVELED BOOK OAnansi andthe TalkingWatermelonRetold by Kitty HigginsIllustrated by Patrick GirouardVisit www.readinga-z.comfor thousands of books and materials.www.readinga-z.com
Anansi andthe TalkingWatermelonRetold by Kitty HigginsIllustrated by Patrick GirouardAnansi “the Spider” stories are based on the oral tradition of WestAfrica. They feature a clever spider who outwits bigger animals to getout of trouble or just to have fun. Folktales once told around campfiresin countries such as Ghana now teach children worldwide about life.Anansi and the Talking WatermelonLevel O Leveled Book Learning A–ZRetold by Kitty HigginsIllustrated by Patrick GirouardAll rights lationLEVEL OFountas & PinnellReading RecoveryDRAM2028
Early one morning, Anansi the spiderawoke to the sound of Possum hoeinghis watermelon patch. Anansi peereddown from the peach tree where helived to watch Possum’s slow progress.Anansi salivated at the thought of ameal of watermelon, his favorite juicy,red fruit.When Possum set his hoe aside atmidday to take a nap, Anansi snuckdown his tree for a snack.Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O3While Possum snored, Anansi shimmieddown his fine, silk web to the ripestwatermelon in the garden. He pickedup a small, sharp stone to chip awaythe melon’s rind. He made a hole thathe could just squeeze into. He gorgedhimself as the juices slid down his eightspider legs.4
“Just when Anansi about had his fill,he heard Possum stir.“Possum will punish me if I amdiscovered,” Anansi said to himself.“He waddled to the hole in the rind andone leg at a time he tried to pull himselfout. He was so slippery he couldn’tkeep his footing. He braced himselfagainst the edge of the hole, but hewas so full of fruit that he no longer fit!“Oh no! I am stuck!” he cried. “NowI have to wait until I shrink back tonormal size.”“Anansi laid his head upon a watermelonseed in an attempt to sleep. He tossedand turned restlessly. “This is so boring.What should I do while I wait?”“As he pondered his next plot, he heardPossum at the far end of the row.“I know! I will trick Possum into thinkingthat his melon talks!”Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O56
“Possum came scratching with his hoe,and as he neared Anansi’s melon heheard a sound, quiet as a mouse.“Possum could not believe his ears andcried, “Eureka! I must show King Bearthe discovery I have made.”“Who is that?” he asked.“Off he went, carrying the watermelonwith Anansi bouncing to and froinside. He met Raccoon rolling in thedust beside the road.“It is I, the watermelon!” Anansi nowyelled.“How absurd, watermelons can’t talk!”Possum said as he cradled the melonto his ear.“Possum, you have never been a goodlistener. Watermelons have beentalking since before you were born!”“What’s the hurry,Possum?”Raccoon asked.“I am bringing King Bear a talkingwatermelon!” Possum answered,very proud of himself.Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O78
“Now I have heard everything!” Raccoonlaughed.“You haven’t heard me talk!” Anansireplied from inside the melon toRaccoon’s smart remark.“Do you believe me now?” askedPossum.“Yes, I do,” Raccoon said. “This smartaleck watermelon is something the kingwould want to see.”“Huh? What? Who said that?” askedRaccoon.Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O“I did!” said Anansi, really enjoyinghis trick. “You are silly, Raccoon,for not realizing more than animalshave speech. Watermelons are moreintelligent than you.”910
Along the path to King Bear’s grandden, Possum and Raccoon came uponGopher, Rat, and Squirrel. They each,in turn, laughed and pointed fingers—until they heard the melon’s strangelittle voice themselves. Before long theyall wanted to hear what the king wouldsay about the oddity, so off they went.“When they arrived, the king, a verygrizzly-looking bear, had just wokenfrom his afternoon slumber and wasa bit grumpy.“What is it?” he growled as the animalsbowed before him.“Possum placed the watermelon on atree stump before King Bear.“What am I to do with this?” the kingasked, continuing before anyone hada chance to answer. “I do not need anywatermelons; I have acres of my own.”“This one talks!” they chimed in unison.Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O1112
“King Bear refused to believe he hadsubjects from a garden patch. Hedemanded that the melon pay respectsto him if the animals spoke the truth.“I would be a fool to waste more timewaiting to see your treacheroustrickery,” he snarled at the frightenedanimals.“The watermelon just sat there, mumfor the first time all day.“You would be a fool not to wait,” pipedup Anansi from inside the melon. “Onlya fool thinks watermelons can’t talk!”“What kind of joke is this?” the kinggrumbled.“Fool? Fool!” King Bear roared. “Howdare you call the king foul names!”“The melon remained silent.“And with that, King Bear picked up themelon in his paws and chucked it ashard and as far as he could.Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O1314
“Possum returned later that day with asour look on his face. He picked up hishoe and started digging furiously.“Melons!” he cried. “Next year I willgrow something else in this patch; youwatermelons are nothing but trouble.”“Perhaps you should grow morepeaches!” Anansi said with a mouthfull of fuzzy fruit. “The king is sure tolisten to a peach!”“The melon flew through the air andlanded with a crack and a thud, splittingwide open. Anansi was free! He skitteredas fast as he could back to the peach treewhere his morning started.“What a great day!” Anansi rejoiced. “Allof this fun has made me hungry again.”“He began nibbling at a large, ripe peachabove Possum’s patch.Anansi and the Talking Watermelon Level O1516
Along the path to King Bear’s grand den, Possum and Raccoon came upon Gopher, Rat, and Squirrel. They each, in turn, laughed and pointed fingers— until they heard the melon’s strange little voice themselves. Before long they all wanted to hear what the king would say about the oddit
