Anansi and the Elephant

Anansi the spider was very small.

Anansi the spider was very small.

Elephant was very big and strong.

Elephant was very big and strong.

Elephant always said he was the strongest animal in the forest.

Elephant always said he was the strongest animal in the forest.

One day, Anansi had an idea.

One day, Anansi had an idea.

He wanted to show that being smart was better than being big.

He wanted to show that being smart was better than being big.

Anansi went to Elephant.

Anansi went to Elephant.

"I am stronger than you,"

"I am stronger than you,"

said Anansi. Elephant laughed.

said Anansi. Elephant laughed.

"You are so small!"

"You are so small!"

"How can you be stronger than me?"

"How can you be stronger than me?"

"Let's have a contest,"

"Let's have a contest,"

said Anansi.

said Anansi.

"We will pull a rope."

"We will pull a rope."

"The strongest one will win."

"The strongest one will win."

Elephant agreed.

Elephant agreed.

He thought it would be easy to win.

He thought it would be easy to win.

Anansi gave one end of a long rope to Elephant.

Anansi gave one end of a long rope to Elephant.

"Wait here,"

"Wait here,"

said Anansi.

said Anansi.

"I will go to the other side of the hill."

"I will go to the other side of the hill."

"When you hear me shout, start pulling."

"When you hear me shout, start pulling."

Anansi took the rope and went over the hill.

Anansi took the rope and went over the hill.

On the other side, he found Hippo by the river.

On the other side, he found Hippo by the river.

"Hippo,"

"Hippo,"

said Anansi,

said Anansi,

"I am stronger than you."

"I am stronger than you."

Hippo laughed.

Hippo laughed.

"That's not possible!"

"That's not possible!"

"Let's pull this rope,"

"Let's pull this rope,"

said Anansi.

said Anansi.

"The strongest one wins."

"The strongest one wins."

Anansi gave the other end of the rope to Hippo.

Anansi gave the other end of the rope to Hippo.

"Wait for my shout, then pull hard."

"Wait for my shout, then pull hard."

Anansi went to the middle of the hill.

Anansi went to the middle of the hill.

He shouted very loud,

He shouted very loud,

"Start pulling!"

"Start pulling!"

Elephant pulled hard on his side.

Elephant pulled hard on his side.

Hippo pulled hard on his side.

Hippo pulled hard on his side.

They pulled and pulled, but nobody won.

They pulled and pulled, but nobody won.

The rope did not move.

The rope did not move.

Both animals got very tired.

Both animals got very tired.

They could not pull anymore.

They could not pull anymore.

Anansi went back to Elephant.

Anansi went back to Elephant.

"I told you I was stronger,"

"I told you I was stronger,"

he said.

he said.

Then Anansi went to Hippo.

Then Anansi went to Hippo.

"See?"

"See?"

"I am stronger than you too."

"I am stronger than you too."

Both Elephant and Hippo were surprised.

Both Elephant and Hippo were surprised.

They thought Anansi was very strong.

They thought Anansi was very strong.

From that day, all the animals knew that Anansi was very clever.

From that day, all the animals knew that Anansi was very clever.

They learned that being smart can be more powerful than being big and strong.

They learned that being smart can be more powerful than being big and strong.