Tales of an Ashanti father
Peggy Appiah
Tales of an Ashanti father
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Peggy Appiah ; illustrated by Mora Dickson.
by Peggy Appiah
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Hear the soft rustle of leaves and the gentle creak of an old wooden stool as Kwaku Anansa spins his clever tales. The warm scent of earth and spices fills the air, drawing you into a world where animals talk and wisdom hides in every story. Each tale whispers secrets of the Ashanti people—stories that sparkle with laughter and lessons but leave you wondering what clever trick comes next.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers a captivating collection of Ashanti folktales from Ghana, featuring the clever spider character Kwaku Anansa. Suitable for ages 9-12, it introduces children to African folklore with rich cultural insights and engaging storytelling. The stories are appropriate for middle-grade readers and promote curiosity about diverse traditions and moral lessons.
Why we rated Tales of an Ashanti father 9C
Tales of an Ashanti father is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 156 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tales of an Ashanti father works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Tales of an Ashanti father as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Tales of an Ashanti father explores folklore, animals, multicultural, family, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about folklore, animals, multicultural.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780233959276
- Pages
- 156
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Published
- 1967
- Type
- Fiction