Not all trickster tales involved animals. With American and African born slaves a language called Afro-English, or Gullah, was created. With this language they told trickster tales of small sly animals such as Brer Rabbit who was able to outwit stronger foes such as Brer Fox and Brer Bear. But they also told the tales of the human trickster, John, who was able rise above his master using intelligence and deceit. Some stories were brought from African culture. Others expressed the slaves' own experiences, but all helped the slaves use language as a means for resistance. John developed in reaction to the cruelty and harshness of their masters. Slaves worked 15-hour days with only a midday break for lunch, and only the Sabbath and Christmas off. Punishments included withholding privileges, which were few. The biggest privilege was the passes to visit family off their plantation. Misbehavior resulted in less food, in addition to being whipped and/or beaten. At night they created a culture of their own. To compensate for the rough days when spirits were at their lowest, the slaves made instruments, sang, danced to African style rhythms, made pottery, quilts and food with the taste of West African seasoning.

An example of a slave tale where they outwitted the master is "Malitis". In "Malitis" the human tricksters, a group of hungry slaves, use mallets to kill the pigs. They tell the master that the pigs have died from the horrible disease, Malitis. The master gives the slaves the pigs because he doesn't want to eat bad meat. The slaves feast knowing the pigs were perfectly healthy. These tricksters overcame the cruelty of their master and were able to eat.

Talking Eggs, a Louisiana slave tale, is a triumph of good over evil, when the evil sister and stepmother get their just desserts. The old wise woman tricks the wicked sister and when she doesn't follow directions, Blanche is freed from a life of endless chores and moves to the city to live like a grand lady.

A classic fairy tale, The Emperor's New Clothes, also falls in a trickster category. Two con men make the foolish, vain emperor believe he's wearing the most wonderful, desirable clothes, only to be told by a small child that's he parading through town with nothing on. This qualifies in two categories, amusement and morality, and can be used for discussion with children on many levels, vanity and common sense.

Many of the trickster tales involving humans are moral tales. These are tales in which Man is brought to bear for his disregard for the other beasts of the Earth and lack of respect for the land. In a wonderful tale, The Hunterman and the Crocodile, the author Baba Wague Diakite tells of Bamba the Crocodile and his family who are traveling to Mecca. They traveled far and became tired and hungry and found shade under a baobab tree. Donso the Hunterman came by and asked why they were so far from the river. Bamba asked Donso to help them return to the river. Although Donso was afraid of the crocs, Bamba swore his family wouldn't harm him. Donso carries the crocs back to the river on his head, but once in the river, the crocodiles turn on Donso. Donso appeals to an old Cow who came to the river to drink. The cow answers,"I will not interfere. Man does not respect others. Look at me. I spent my life providing milk and giving up my children to Man. Now that I am old, Man gives me no consideration. I don't care if Bamba eats you." A horse and a chicken come to the river and each has a similar response. Even the Mango tree says Man doesn't deserve sympathy. Then Rabbit comes. He hears the story and laughs. "How can Man put such a big, long load of crocodiles on his head?" Bamba and his family insist it’s true and come on shore to show him. Donso binds them up, and puts them on his head. Rabbit simply says, "Hunterman, it looks like you have a fine meal to take home." Donso is grateful and invites Rabbit home for a feast. As they near the village, Donso hears that his wife is gravely ill, and needs the tears of a crocodile to save her. The crocodiles save themselves by giving their tears in exchange for their lives. Donso never forgot the lessons he learned from the animals and reminded people of the importance of living in harmony with nature, and the necessity of placing Man among - not above - all living things. (Diakite)

Sometimes the tricksters aren't regular humans either, but little people. In Ireland they are known as leprechauns. In Scandinavia they are known as tomte. The Leprechaun is an Irish fairy. He looks like a small, old man (about 2 feet tall), often dressed like a shoemaker, with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes. They also possess a hidden pot of gold. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost. If seen during the day, the wee folk must give up some treasure.

In Tim O'Toole and the Wee folk, the author and illustrator Gerald McDermott tells the tale of Tim's luck when he spies the leprechauns. The leprechauns give him a gray goose that lays golden eggs, warning him not to tell a soul, and he and his wife will never need a thing. He stops at a neighbor's farmhouse when it's dark and tells him about his good luck. The farmer and his wife switch geese and when Tim gets home, the goose won't lay the golden eggs. Tim goes back to the leprechauns and complains. They give him a magic tablecloth that spreads whatever food you desire. Once again the neighbor switches tablecloths, and Tim is left without the magic. When Tim tells the leprechauns what the neighbor did, they give Tim a strange green hat and tell them to leave the hat where the neighbors can see it. Of course the neighbors can't resist looking at the hat and when they tip the hat over, out pops ten little men with big blackthorn clubs. They beat the couple about the ankles until they give back the linen tablecloth and the little gray goose. Folks from all around the neighborhood heard of O'Toole's good fortune and came to see the goose. The cottage filled with people til there was no place to sit. When O'Toole had had enough, he tipped his hat and out came his tiny friends to disperse the crowd. (McDermott)

In Sweden, delightful elves called tomte help protect the homes and lands of the people. A tomte is described as an older, little man about the size of a young child. He wears old ragged clothes, usually gray or navy, and sports a bright red cap on his head. He resides under the house, in the pantry or barn and watches over the household and farm. He is responsible for the care of the farm animals, especially the horses. The tomte or nisse, as they are known in Norway has an enormous capacity for work but will not tolerate anyone's interference. It is believed that a clean and orderly home or farm is an indication that this sprite resides there. They are treated by respect by the homeowner. At Christmas their humans honor them by putting out a special dish of rice porridge, called julegrot. It's considered part of his annual salary. If you don't honor the tomte that lives under your house, he'll play tricks on you.

The most famous trickster tale involving tomtes is The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlof. Ms. Lagerlof was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature. The work was commissioned by the Swedish Primary School Board to encourage the school children to learn Swedish geography. In the two-volume story Nils, a fourteen year old boy, is shrunk down to elf-size because of his own selfish naughtiness. Nils is the son of poor farmers. "His chief delight is to eat and sleep, and after that - he liked best to make mischief." He catches the family's tomte in a butterfly net and when he reneges on a deal to free the tomte, he is reduced to the size of a tomte himself. He doesn't know how to what to do and when he wanders out into the yard, the geese and chicken begin to make fun of him. He's amazed he can understand them speaking. He jumps on the back of the farm's gander, which joins a flock flying north, to Lapland.

Nils Holgersson travels the length and breath of Sweden with the wild geese and learns unselfishness from them. The animals call him "Little Tummetott", which translates to Little Thumb Tot. The story has a strong moral tone, and its plea to respect Nature is today even more urgent. The volumes look at the Swedish way of life from the air and on the ground. Lagerlof gives her readers much information about her native country, its geography, history, and its mythological past. At times the story is stilted because Lagerlof tried to cover all the areas of Sweden, but the adventures give children around the world an idea of the power of the little people, and to treat them and the world with respect or suffer the consequences.