English

The Monkey and the Crab by Ryan Aoto, adapted from the Japanese folktale The Monkey and Crab Battle. This is a LibraryCall Recording. One day, a monkey walked down to the riverbank. There, he saw a crab holding an omusubi, a ball of rice wrapped in seaweed. The monkey’s first thought was to run over and steal the omusubi for himself, as he was both hungry and greedy. The crab was smaller than him, so he shouldn’t have much trouble. Just as he was about to run over, he noticed the crab’s sharp claws. “I would not want to be pinched by those,” the monkey thought.

"It's Saturday!" That is Ruby's first thought when she wakes up. Then, she hears the movement of the steel pans and pots hitting the stovetop in the kitchen. Ruby's mom is getting ready for the aunties, the uncles, and cousin Shaun to visit. "Ruby!" Ruby's mom both sings and shouts her name. "It's time to get up!" A new sound emerges from the kitchen. Calypso music is playing, and Ruby hears the steel pan drum. Now the day has officially begun.