Joyce Cooper Arkhurst, whose 1964 collection, The Adventures of Spider, apparently did so much to popularize the Anansi tale in the United States, returns to the spider-hero in this second anthology from 1972. Like the first, More Adventures of Spider contains six tales taken from the west African folkloric tradition, predominantly Ghanaian. Here the reader will encounter:

Spider and the Magic Cooking Pot, in which Spider hoards the food obtained from a magic pot during a time of need, and is suitably punished.

How Spider Invited Turtle to Dinner, which relates how Spider's discourteous actions, in ensuring that his guest will not be able to share in his dinner, are repaid in kind.

How Spider Lost His Whiskers, in which Spider's laziness so infuriates his roommate Antelope, that a prank with unexpected consequences is played, to teach him a lesson.

How Spider Brought Weaving to Ashanti, in an accidental sharing of knowledge, after Spider himself must learn to weave, in order to extricate himself from (another!) self-inflicted problem.

Why Spiders Live in the Ceiling, in which Spider's attempt to steal Leopard's magic sheep ends in a predictably disastrous way, necessitating his entire family changing their way of life.

And finally, How the Moon Came To Be in the Sky, in which Spider's hesitation, in struggling to decide which of his six sons to reward, leads to the ascension of the moon.

These six selections are as amusing as those contained in Arkhurst's first book, and are sure to please Anansi lovers. It's interesting to see the development in illustrator Jerry Pinkney's style, in the eight years between the two volumes. All in all, this is one I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy the genre, or who have read Arkhurst's other collection. ( )