Verna Aardema

A retelling of a traditional West African tale that reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying habit. A mosquito annoyed the iguana, who frightened the python, who scared the rabbit, and now the whole jungle is in an uproar because the sun won't rise. The animals discuss the situation and decide to punish the mosquito. Even today, whenever we hear a mosquito buzz, we smack it hard!

Long ago, when the world was new, the ostrich's neck was so short that he couldn't reach the succulent berries in the trees, and he had to sit on the ground to eat bugs. All that changed on the fateful day when the crocodile awoke with a terrible toothache that no one dared to help her with-no one, that is, but a naive and compassionate young ostrich. Compromising his own safety to help a needy stranger, he was rewarded with a most amazing surprise....

Adapted from a Masai folktale about a rabbit who can't get into her house because the Long One, who "eats trees and tramples on elephants, " is hiding inside, this animated production is presented as a play performed by Masai actors wearing animal masks.

A little lamb uses her clever wiles to keep a coyote from eating her up.

A cumulative rhyme relating how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain.

Anansi and his wife outsmart the Sky God and win back the beloved folktales of their people.

An African folktale in which the son of the chief must make his way in the world with only a sackful of kola nuts and the help of some creatures that he has treated with kindness.

On his way to his wedding, with his friends as attendants, a civet cat meets with extraordinary and unexpected delays.

King Gorilla decrees that no one may marry his daughter until a suitor strong enough to consume a barrel of strange, intoxicating water is found.

With the help of a blue crane, a mother dove rescues her babies from a not-so-clever jackal.