Anansi the spider was very clever.

Anansi the spider was very clever.

But he was also very proud.

But he was also very proud.

He thought he was the smartest of all animals.

He thought he was the smartest of all animals.

One day, Anansi saw a big tree.

One day, Anansi saw a big tree.

In the tree was a nest of hornets.

In the tree was a nest of hornets.

The hornets were big and angry.

The hornets were big and angry.

All the animals were afraid of them.

All the animals were afraid of them.

Anansi said,

Anansi said,

"I am not afraid of those hornets."

"I am not afraid of those hornets."

"I am smarter than they are."

"I am smarter than they are."

"I will catch them all!"

"I will catch them all!"

The other animals said,

The other animals said,

"No, Anansi!"

"No, Anansi!"

"The hornets are dangerous."

"The hornets are dangerous."

"They will hurt you!"

"They will hurt you!"

But Anansi did not listen.

But Anansi did not listen.

He wanted to show everyone how clever he was.

He wanted to show everyone how clever he was.

Anansi made a plan.

Anansi made a plan.

He took a big gourd and filled it with water.

He took a big gourd and filled it with water.

Then he went to the hornet tree.

Then he went to the hornet tree.

Anansi poured some water on himself.

Anansi poured some water on himself.

Then he poured water on the hornet nest.

Then he poured water on the hornet nest.

"Oh no!"

"Oh no!"

cried Anansi loudly.

cried Anansi loudly.

"It is raining!"

"It is raining!"

"You poor hornets will get wet!"

"You poor hornets will get wet!"

The hornets were worried.

The hornets were worried.

"What can we do?"

"What can we do?"

they buzzed.

they buzzed.

Anansi held up his gourd.

Anansi held up his gourd.

"Quick!"

"Quick!"

"Come into my gourd."

"Come into my gourd."

"You will be safe and dry inside."

"You will be safe and dry inside."

The hornets thought Anansi was helping them.

The hornets thought Anansi was helping them.

They all flew into the gourd quickly.

They all flew into the gourd quickly.

As soon as all the hornets were inside, Anansi closed the gourd with a cork.

As soon as all the hornets were inside, Anansi closed the gourd with a cork.

The hornets were trapped!

The hornets were trapped!

"I caught you all!"

"I caught you all!"

laughed Anansi.

laughed Anansi.

"I am the smartest animal in the forest!"

"I am the smartest animal in the forest!"

But the hornets were very angry.

But the hornets were very angry.

They buzzed loudly inside the gourd.

They buzzed loudly inside the gourd.

They pushed and pushed against the sides.

They pushed and pushed against the sides.

Soon the cork popped out!

Soon the cork popped out!

All the angry hornets flew out of the gourd.

All the angry hornets flew out of the gourd.

They chased Anansi through the forest.

They chased Anansi through the forest.

They stung him many times.

They stung him many times.

Poor Anansi ran and ran, crying for help.

Poor Anansi ran and ran, crying for help.

From that day on, Anansi learned to be more careful.

From that day on, Anansi learned to be more careful.

Being clever is good, but being too proud can get you into trouble.

Being clever is good, but being too proud can get you into trouble.