Ackees, a Spider, and ... Uh ... Breda Anansi? — Patrick G. McLean

Take a cultural peek into Jamaica, an island in the West Indies. This story ‘Ackees, a Spider, and … uh … Breda Anansi?' is presented in English and Patois. Dialogues in the story give an idea of the banana spider as well as ackee, which is the national fruit that makes up the national dish along with saltfish. Breda Anansi, a folktale character passed down from African folks settling on the island in the 1600s, is featured in a fresh tale. The anthropoid animals, in the Breda Anansi tale, communicate mainly in the Patois/Patwa dialect. The handful of dialects is included in a glossary for those wanting to get acquainted with the casual language on the island. Illustrations include artworks by Sanai Hardison (9 years old) and Skylah Simms (4 years old).