Anansi and the Full Melon UFLI Foundations Lesson 89

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Anansi and the Full Melon

Practice Words

looks good full look put footsteps looked pull pulls pushes puts
Page 1
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Anansi (match attached reference) slips into Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) in the dry field of Farmer Kofi (match attached reference), who works unaware in the background. Show cracked red earth, a painted cement house beyond the rows, and the big leaf shading the melon. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the RIGHT. Keep the LEFT 50% text area genuinely open inside a smooth, low-detail gradient blur covering the LEFT 60% of the image. Use only a plain, continuous continuation of the scene background there, with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations. Keep all important characters and detailed scene content in the RIGHT 40%, with only a soft natural fade into the blurred left text area. That LEFT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the LEFT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

No rain falls for weeks. Just one thing still looks good: a farm man's big yellow-green melon. It sits in the shade of its own big leaf. Anansi the spider smells it from far off. He waits till the farm man looks away, bites a small hole in the melon skin, and slips inside. It is dark and sweet. The spider eats and eats and eats, and naps before he sees the problem.

Page 2
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Anansi (match attached reference; enlarged to the size of a small yam, with a greatly swollen belly) is trapped inside Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference), wedged tightly with his belly pressing against the flesh and his legs folded awkwardly. Sticky seeds surround his belly, with the entry hole far out of reach. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the LEFT. Keep the RIGHT 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That RIGHT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the RIGHT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

The problem is this. The spider goes in small. Then he is as big as a yam. His full belly presses the walls. The hole is small, and he is big. He can not get his big belly past it. The spider pushes. He twists. He tries to go legs first. Then. Thud, thud. Footsteps! The farm man walks back to the melon. The spider pulls his legs in and stays very still.

Page 3
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Farmer Kofi (match attached reference) stands in his field, proudly patting Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) while his hoe rests nearby. Behind a rough fence, Elephant's huge grey legs pass on the raised road, and a small thought bubble rises from the smug melon under its leaf. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed in the lower part of the frame. Keep the TOP 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That TOP 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the TOP 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

The farm man comes to the melon, pats it, and walks on. Anansi is stuck, but no one has seen him. He can work with stuck. Lots of melon is left to eat, and the shade is good. Then Elephant walks past on the road. The spider looks up, and he makes a plan. His best bad plan yet.

Page 4
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Elephant flees along the road above Kofi's field, trunk raised in panic. Below the fence, Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) sits quietly while dusty footprints mark Elephant's retreat. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the RIGHT. Keep the LEFT 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That LEFT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the LEFT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

'Good morning, Elephant!' the spider calls from inside the melon, deep and slow. Elephant stops. She looks left. She looks right. No one is on the road. 'Look low,' says the melon. Elephant looks at the melon. 'My, my, Elephant! So big today!' says the spider. Elephant backs up one step, then two, then runs off fast.

Page 5
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Anansi (match attached reference) enjoys the villagers' attention from inside Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) beside Kofi's field fence, while Farmer Kofi (match attached reference) stands bewildered behind it and a sceptical elder folds her arms. The villagers lean toward the silent melon, wearing bright Western casual clothing and plastic sneakers in the dust. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the LEFT. Keep the RIGHT 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That RIGHT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the RIGHT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

The tale runs fast, and gets bigger with each telling. By night, the tale is all over: the farm man's melon can talk! By morning, a big mob stands at the farm plot. Anansi is glad. He waits. The mob leans in, all still. Then he says in his best melon call, 'The rain comes back in seven days.' The mob gasps. One old gal looks hard at the melon, just in case.

Page 6
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: The King (match attached reference) sits on a carved stool in the palace court while four attendants lift Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) on a carrying cloth. Farmer Kofi (match attached reference) watches unhappily nearby; carved palace posts, a polished cement floor, and kente patterns decorate the room. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed in the lower part of the frame. Keep the TOP 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That TOP 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the TOP 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

By midday, the tale gets to the King. A melon that talks! The King must see this. He calls for the melon to come to his court. Anansi feels sick. Going to the King is not the plan at all. But the spider is stuck in the melon. Four strong men put the melon on a cloth, pull it up, and take it off to the King.

Page 7
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: The King (match attached reference) leans forward on a carved stool, politely addressing Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) on a low wooden table while Abena (match attached reference) sits among the advisors with folded arms, studying. The court is crowded at the doorways, illuminated by an LED flashlight beam. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the RIGHT. Keep the LEFT 50% text area genuinely open inside a smooth, low-detail gradient blur covering the LEFT 60% of the image. Use only a plain, continuous continuation of the scene background there, with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations. Keep all important characters and detailed scene content in the RIGHT 40%, with only a soft natural fade into the blurred left text area. That LEFT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the LEFT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

The court is full. The King sits in gold and black, and his aides sit in rows. The mob presses in at every door. The men put the melon on a low table. The King leans in and says, 'We are told this melon can talk. Please talk.' Inside, the spider thinks fast. He can go on with the act, or stay still and quiet. He will not pick quiet.

Page 8
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Anansi (match attached reference) performs lucky guesses from inside Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference) in the glittering court as The King (match attached reference) leans forward, impressed. A drummer gapes beside a water jar, an advisor's hat has fallen off, Abena (match attached reference) stares thoughtfully, and Farmer Kofi (match attached reference) stands tense at the back of the crowd. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the LEFT. Keep the RIGHT 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That RIGHT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the RIGHT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

Anansi puts on his best show. The melon tells the King that his dish needs one thing: pepper-seeds. And the melon is right! The melon says it is a lucky day for the crop. The melon tells the drummer where his drumstick is. Look behind the water jar! Right again. The King is glad. His aides gape. At the back, the farm man looks cross and glad all at once.

Page 9
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Abena (match attached reference) stands with arms folded beside a low table holding Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference), calmly facing the frozen court. The King (match attached reference) sits behind her with one eyebrow raised, while rows of advisors sit motionless under LED lamps. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed in the lower part of the frame. Keep the TOP 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That TOP 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the TOP 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

Then one of the aides stands up. She is sharp, and she has sat and looked hard for a long time. 'My King, I must ask this melon one thing,' she says. She walks to the low table. 'Melon,' she says, 'what am I thinking?' The court is still. The spider is still. He can not tell what the sharp gal thinks. The hush stretches on and on.

Page 10
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: The King (match attached reference) stands in the court with his arm extended after throwing Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference), which arcs above recoiling spectators. Abena (match attached reference) stands to one side, unsurprised, with carved stools pushed slightly askew below. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the RIGHT. Keep the LEFT 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That LEFT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the LEFT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

'The melon,' the spider says at last, 'is thinking of what the sharp gal thinks.' The court is still for one more second. Then the King stands up slow. 'I was a good host to this melon,' says the King, 'and it plays a trick on my court. Take it away.' His call goes soft and quiet. A man picks up the melon. 'Quick,' says the King. Then the King grabs the melon. And tosses it!

Page 11
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Anansi (match attached reference; greatly enlarged and extremely fat, with a swollen round belly) lies orange-stained in the courtyard with his legs raised as Farmer Kofi (match attached reference), The King (match attached reference), and the court laugh. Farmer Kofi's prize melon (match attached reference; burst into broken yellow-green rind fragments with exposed flesh, seeds, and spilled juice) is scattered across the floor. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed toward the LEFT. Keep the RIGHT 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That RIGHT 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the RIGHT 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

The melon hits the floor with a crack. It bursts into rind, seeds, mush, and one very fat, melon-stained spider. Anansi spins, rolls under a bench, and lies still. He hopes all will think he is a big seed. The farm man looks at the melon. Then at the spider. Then at the King. Then back at the spider. 'What man has seen a melon talk?' says the farm man. Then all the court cracks up, and no one can stop.

Page 12
Create a single full-page children's book illustration. Use the attached character reference images and match each named character exactly — same shapes, colours and clothing; do not redesign them. SCENE: Anansi (match attached reference) walks home along a village road, slightly orange-stained, picking a melon seed from one leg with a rueful expression. In the background, Farmer Kofi (match attached reference) watches carefully beside his melon field, where small protective fences surround the melons and a watchful crow perches on a post. COMPOSITION: Compose ONE full-bleed scene with a single continuous background that fills the whole image, characters at natural size placed in the lower part of the frame. Keep the TOP 50% text area genuinely open — plain, continuous background with NO characters, objects, props, hanging items, plants, patterns or decorations in it — while the rest of the scene fills the frame naturally. That TOP 50% text area must be the SAME continuous background colour as the scene (not a flat panel, not a different shade, no dividing line). Do NOT shrink or squash the characters. Book text will be overlaid in the TOP 50% text area. Do not include any written text, letters, numbers, captions, speech bubbles, signs, labels, logos, or watermarks anywhere; the image must be purely illustrative.

The King sends Anansi home with a stern word, a rag, and a bag of pepper-seeds for the farm man. The spider walks back, still stained with melon, picking melon seeds off his legs. He is glad. He is clever. So clever he almost tricks a king. But he does not quit in time, and his big belly can not get past the small hole. 'What man has seen a melon talk?' No one. And no one is with the spider when he says, 'Next time I quit at six bites.' But when the next crop comes, the farm man looks long and hard at his melons.

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