Discover a world of myths and magic in How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail, a stunning anthology that celebrates the storytelling traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean.

Stories include:

• How George Grew Wings (USA)
• How Anansi Became King of All Stories (Ghana, Ivory Coast & Togo)
• Mango Heart (Jamaica)
• Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky (Nigeria)
• . . . and many more.

Author Jessica Wilson gathers lyrical, interwoven folktales that have traveled across oceans and through time. From Nigeria and Ghana to Jamaica and the USA, these stories have gathered new color and meaning along their journey. 

Each story is introduced with the country, people, and traditions where the tale originates, making the collection both immersive and accessible for young readers, families and classrooms. Paired with Sophie Bass’s vibrant, symbolic illustrations, this anthology immerses readers in the colors, foods, landscapes, and characters of West Africa and the Caribbean. 

Told through authentic voices, this book is created by author Jessica Wilson, who has Jamaican heritage, and illustrator Sophie Bass, who has Trinidadian heritage. With its cultural richness and celebration of ancestral heritage, this anthology creates a safe, joyful space for children to see themselves represented.

Jessica Wilson is a writer of Jamaican and British heritage who is passionate about bringing stories from and histories of the Caribbean to life. She was a participant in Penguin Random House’s ‘WriteNow’ programme, which aims to seek out and nurture writers from under-represented communities. Jessica was shortlisted for the 2018 Aesthetica Creative Writing Award and is a GoFundMe Award winner. She was trained at UCL and Cambridge University. 

Sophie is a London-based Illustrator of mixed British and Trinidadian heritage. She creates work inspired by music, social justice, mythology, and symbolism.

1.  How Anansi Became King of All Stories (Ghana, Ivory Coast & Togo)

2.  How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail (Jamaica)

3.  Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky (Nigeria)

4.  How George Grew Wings (USA)

5.  Coral and Pearls (Nigeria)

6.  Moonlight Magic (Senegal)

7. A Rainbow of Blues (Nigeria, Benin & Togo)

8.  When the Swamp-Serpent Surfaces (The Gambia)

9.  From Peacock to Vulture (Nigeria)

10.  Tighter than a Caterpillar’s Chrysalis (Ghana)

11.  When the Sky People Visited Earth (Mali)

12.  Mango Heart (Jamaica)