The Dancing Granny

by Ashley Bryan

Spider Ananse gets Granny started dancing so he can raid her garden, but his own trick does him in.

Genres: Picture Books

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Ashley Bryan was an illustrator, children's author, and poet.

Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine.

Reviews

[Leah Gerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Shake it to the East, Shake it to the West, Shake it to the one that you love best” tells the message of the story. The trickster spider gets Granny to dance in all directions so he can raid her garden. In the end, she tricks him into dancing with her. His music is irresistible to her and her dancing is irresistible to him. This is a lyrical adaptation of a West Indian folktale. The abstract sketches of Granny and the trickster help develop the characters and silliness. You can see the movement and feel the rhythm of the characters as they dance. I think children would laugh at the granny dancing and it also teaches a lesson. I think that this book would be great to read as a class with the students. It teaches a valuable lesson while making them laugh. I think this would fall into being one of the children’s favorites and it has a catchy phrase that I quoted above.
Bryan, A. (1977). The dancing granny. New York: Atheneum.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So--I took my 10 year old granddaughter to the library this afternoon for her ukulele class and while we were waiting for Mr. Matt to begin she was looking at books. She came running with one that she said I had to read because it was about me and then handed me this book. Of course I read it!! It was her joke to me because she's always laughing that I do Zumba but it was sweet too! The book was also cute--it's about Granny Anika, who is always busy gardening and dancing--but she always gets her crops planted and cared for. One day, Spider Ananse, the laziest man in town comes by and sings such a great song that Granny dances way out north of the village and he takes all her corn home to his family for dinner. He fools her additional times but in the end, Granny is still dancing and teaching Spider to be a bit more like her! Sorry for not giving you a "spoiler alert"! :) Anyway--cute book and if you're a dancing granny you should probably read it!!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an Anansi tale, tales believed to have originated among the Ashanti people of Ghana about a trickster spider. It is not short for a bedtime story (64 pages), the story is very detailed, and has an interlude for each of the four compass directions, plus a finale. I thought the illustrations were wonderful: chalk outlines that expressed the movement of dance throughout, but my 4 year old was reluctant to read it since it is such a tiny book and the pictures are just black and white and not detailed. But she was sold once we started, and said "I liked that story" when we got to the end!

[Macy Davis]

Read for CHL 403 - Picturebook, Fall 2020

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trickster is often found in folktales. The musical rhyme “Shake it to the East, Shake it to the West, Shake it to the one that you love best” tells the message of the story. The trickster gets Granny to dance in all directions. In the end, she tricks him into dancing with her. His music is irresistible to her and her dancing is irresistible to him. Is it that she forgives him for stealing her food? Does she love him the best? The cover page states the story is retold by Bryan. The back cover states it is a lyrical adaptation of a West Indian folktale. The verso page lists subject headings: Anansi (Legendary character) and Folklore--West Indies). The abstract sketches of Granny and the trickster are an extension of the story. You can see the movement and feel the rhythm of the characters as they dance, roll, and tumble.

[Deborah Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the sketches, but that's about it.

#APersonOfColorAsTheMainCharacter

[Cws]

J398.2Bry

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one from my childhood, author came in the 4th grade for a reading. Not my favorite as a child but as an adult I do appreciate the sketching.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing Anansi story with beautiful line drawings that dance you through the pages!