The Spider Weaver: A Legend Of Kente Cloth
Weavers in Ghana all know the story of the remarkable spider that showed  two enterprising weavers a brand new way to weave beautiful patterns into their  cloth. These weavers, named Nana Koragu and Nana Ameyaw, are walking through the  jungle one day on their way home to their Ashanti village, when they come across  what seems like a "small miracle"--a spider web with a wondrously intricate  design. Awestruck, the friends decide to bring this treasure home with them to  study. Alas! The web collapses at their touch, and is ruined. But all is not  lost. At Ameyaw's wife's suggestion, the weavers return the following day and  watch as the amazing Master Web Weaver, a large yellow and black spider, spins  her magic for their benefit. Inspired by their skillful teacher, Koragu and  Ameyaw begin imitating the spider's weaving dance on their looms to create a new  woven cloth calledkente-nwen-ntoma, worn to this day by kings and  regular people alike.Margaret Musgrove is the author ofAshanti to Zulu, which won the  Caldecott Medal for illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon. Her knowledge of  African traditions and stories stems from her many visits to West Africa over  the years. Artist Julia Cairns lived in Africa for 10 years, working on  landscape paintings in the Okavango Swamps in northern Botswana. Readers will be  reluctant to tear their eyes away from her stunning illustrations. (Ages 5 to 9)--Emilie Coulter