The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth by Margaret Musgove, Illustrated by Julia Cairns (Ages 4-8)

The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth by Margaret Musgove, Illustrated by Julia Cairns (Ages 4-8)

Musgove, Margaret. (2001). The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth. New York: The Blue Sky Press.

Genre: Legend Picture

Lexile: 620

This book is about a two expert weavers who live in Ghana. The men weaved nwen-ntoma a cloth that all people wore throughout their village. One day they are travelling throughout he forest and see a beautiful web like they had never seen before. The two men decide to try and bring the web home to replicate it in clothing, but when they pick the spider’s web up it collapsed and stuck to the mans fingers. Disappointed they return to the village. Eventually they decide to go back and see if they can find this create that is making the gorgeous webs, and they do. They are able to watch the spider weave his web and are able to go back and create a similar web idea with string. They make beautiful cloth/clothing, which is still worn today in Ghana and across the world.

Illustrations- This book represents the people in the story well, making sure to identify with Ghana people, their skin color is a good representation of their people and could not be switched color and look like a white person. This is important because it is culturally giving a good representation to children. The pictures in the book are vibrant as well.

This story fits the criteria of a multicultural literature piece because it (1) respects the identities and ideals of the culture being represented – Ghana (2) shows differences to white culture (3) respects and understands universal freedom and rights (4) prepares children for responsible life (5) knowledge of cross-cultural communication and conflict management skills (Norton 73-74). This book represents the ideals of Ghana people and their past on how the Kente Cloth was made and how the legend goes. This provides students with a new understanding and cultural background for the Kente Cloth.

Person Against Nature- This book focuses on the two weavers and a spider. In the story the weaver’s take the web and it collapses in their hand, when they come back again the spider has weaved them a new web and smiles. This is showing the friendly relationship between the men and spider.

Mini Lesson- This could be used with an art project and having students create their own webs, or as well as a math project and counting the web lines. Also, a writing project where students either write about what they learned, or something it reminded them about.

Enjoyment- Students age 4-8 would enjoy learning about and reading this book.