In the Caribbean, stories are not just for telling and listening: they are for singing and dancing. So here, courtesy of the Caribbean, are five mischievous stories to get the children up and on their feet. The traditional tales are woven around human characters, talking animals and mythical creatures. Grace Hallworth's energetic retellings are accompanied by one-line music, dance rhythm choreography by a well-known dance teacher and by John Clementson's brilliantly colourful collage, together with a glossary and a note from the author.

Author Biography

GRACE HALLWORTH was born and brought up in Trinidad, where she trained as a librarian. In 1956 she moved to England and introduced storytelling in Hertfordshire as part of children's library education. In 1984 she became a full-time storyteller, and moved back to Tobago. She appears at many international festivals, on radio and on television, as well as serving on a number of children's literature award panels. Her many books include Anansi's Secret (Granada TV), Cric Crac (Heinemann), Anansi at the Pool (Longman) and Down by the River, illustrated by Caroline Binch, which was a runner-up for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1996. JOHN CLEMENTSON studied at Carlisle College of Art and Wolverhampton Polytechnic before starting his career as a painter. He has received commissions from companies as diverse as Sony, British Airways, Decca, Coca-Cola, London Transport and Citroen. His books include Michael Rosen's How the Animals Got their Colours, The First Giraffe and Crow and Hawk, and four board books: Happy Moose, Grumpy Goose; Spots on my Shoes; Red Strawberry; and The Sun Rises, the Star Shines (all published by Studio Editions). His first title for Frances Lincoln was Anansi and Boastful Bullfrog.