The Story Thief: A Bloomsbury Reader: Lime Book Band

By Andrew Fusek Peters and Sara Ugolotti

Book Band: Lime, ideal for ages 6+

A quirky reworking of the traditional stories of the spider god Anansi from west Africa by Andrew Fusek Peters.

Nyame the sky god has a special treasure - in a big, brass chest are all the stories ever told. Anansi, the cleverest of spiders, sees that down on Earth the people are bored. Unfortunately, she can't spin a tale, but she can spin a web. So she makes a ladder up into the sky, determined to bring back the stories, whatever it takes.

This humourous version of the stories of Anansi by Andrew Fusek Peters has fun black-and-white illustrations by Sara Ugolotti and is perfect for children who are developing as readers.

The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com.

'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed … Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Jul 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781472973535

Andrew Fusek Peters

Andrew Fusek Peters has written award-winning, critically acclaimed books for all ages (many with his wife, Polly), including poetry collections, picture books, storybooks, anthologies, plays, radio plays, graphic novels, verse novels and fiction. He is also a performer and storyteller, travelling to schools and literary festivals around the country with his didgeridoo. Andrew grew up in London and now lives in rural Shropshire with Polly and two children.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Nyame the sky god lived in a huge room right on top of the clouds. He was the most bad-tempered god anyone had ever seen.

When Nyame had a tantrum, everyone on Earth ran for cover.

When he complained, the clouds rumbled. When he shouted, thunder nearly split people’s eardrums, sparks flew from his eyes as lightning, and when his big, fat tears began to fall, the land soon flooded.

Nyame had one possession, a treasure that always cheered him up. When he opened the big, brass chest at the bottom of his bed, his growls and grumbles stopped and a smile like the sun lit up his face. Because inside that chest was a bag. And inside that bag were the words, dreams and ideas that made up every story ever told.

Nyame would pull out a story and let its