Anancy and the Haunted House

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Anancy is the biggest, baddest, and most boastful spider in town. All
the little spiders look up to him because he has traveled the farthest
distances, climbed the highest mountains, and frightened the most
people. One day, the little spiders beg Anancy to come to their beach
party. Anancy accepts their invitation, only to arrogantly dictate what
food they must serve him. The little spiders are not the least bit put
off by Anancy’s rudeness. At the beach party, their ceaseless hero
worship goads Anancy to show off even more. When the little spiders
mention that they are all frightened of a legendary dancing rooster who
is supposed to inhabit a nearby haunted house, Anancy scoffs at their
fears. He declares that he is afraid of nothing and to prove it, he goes
for a stroll through the haunted house. Anancy’s bravado, however,
quickly turns to terror when he comes face to face with the dreaded
dancing rooster.

At first, this droll tale seems nothing more than a story about a
boastful spider who gets his much-deserved comeuppance, but there is
something more to this tale. For all his faults, Anancy is an endearing
character who reminds the reader of someone familiar—maybe that
boastful little bug deep inside all of us. Equally endearing are the
colorful high-energy illustrations by Stéphane Jorisch. Highly
recommended.