Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Barefoot Books (2007), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages
Description
To settle an inheritance dispute between two brothers, King Solomon tells a tale of how Jerusalem came to be founded.
Media reviews
A beautifully illustrated folk tale.
Library's review
An excellent retelling of the classic Jewish folk tale in which two brothers each consider the other's needs to be more than his own, and offers some of what he has to his brother. In this telling, the giving is done with great persistence. Here, the story is used by King Solomon to teach two
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brothers in his own time the central value of sharing. The Jewish version of this tale is presented, but a postscript indicates that there are variant versions amongst Arab peoples as well. - Marla S. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Middle East Book Award (Winner — Picture Book — 2007)
The White Ravens (2008)
Skipping Stones Honor Award (2008)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member Smiler69
During King Solomon's time, two brothers who's father has just died and who are arguing about how to divide up their inheritance go to Jerusalem to visit the great King so he can give them wise counsel on how to best solve their dispute. As is his way, the King answers the query by telling them a
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story about... two brother. These two brothers lived long ago, each in a village situated in the same place where Jerusalem was eventually founded. The brothers worked their fields together and shared their harvest equally between each other. Then one of the brothers married and had several children, while the other remained happily single. One year, their harvest was greater than it had ever been before, so the brother who didn't have a wife and children to look after thought that it might do his brother a kindness to give him a few extra bags of wheat to help him feed his large family, so he set off to bring three bags of grain to his brother under the cover of night. Meanwhile, the other brother, thinking that his sibling didn't have anyone to look after him, might be in need of a greater portion, and so, he too set off in the night to deliver three bags of grain to his brother. A beautiful and simple tale that speaks about brotherly love and shows us with a touch of humour that many problems can be resolved when good intentions and deeds are present. I borrowed this book to see more of Fronty's illustration work and while they weren't my favourite drawings, they served the story very well. One of the few books illustrated by this artist that is available in English. Show Less
LibraryThing member Eowyn_33
Critique: This is a folktale (w/ informational note) that is shared by both the Hebrews and Arabs that has been told many, many times till it was finally written down approximately 200 years ago.
Plot: this story has a great plot where it leaves the reader wondering if there is really something
Media: acrylics
Plot: this story has a great plot where it leaves the reader wondering if there is really something
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magical happening or if something is afoot. Media: acrylics
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LibraryThing member EricaRodriguez
One City, Two Brothers is a story about two brothers and their devotion to each other. These two brothers shared a piece of land between their two villages. Each brother worked the land and they divided up the crop evenly between the two of them. One of the brothers married and had many children,
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while the other brother never married. The story tells how one day the brother with many children realized that his brother would not have any one to take care of him in his old age. Because of this he thought his brother should have a larger portion of the crop, so that he could sell it and build up his savings. After the harvest, this brother decided to give his brother three more bags of grain. He loaded up his donkey and dropped off three extra bags of grain at his brother’s house. The next morning he went to his barn and found that he did not have three less bags of grain, but his original number. Not knowing what had happened he decided to repeat his trip again that night. This happened two more nights in a row until the third night when he encountered his brother on the path to his house with three bags of grain on his donkey. They both then realized what had happened and the love that they both had for each other. In the book the place that they meet between each village is said to be the place where the city of Jerusalem would eventually stand. This story is shared by both Jews and Arabs in Israel. The story teaches the reader about the shared belief about the founding of Jerusalem by two groups of people, who do not share many areas of commonality. It also contains drawings of historically accurate dress and architecture that can still be found in Jerusalem today. For these reasons the book is a great tool in teaching children about current and historical aspects about that part of the Middle East. This book could also be used in a display dealing with the history of Jerusalem and the implications on today’s society. It could also be used during a storytime to teach children about the Middle East and their traditions. The book could also be used in children’s reports on the founding of the city of Jerusalem. Show Less
LibraryThing member amassingale
This book is about two brothers that are each wanting to get their late fathers land. They go to King Solomon to handle their dispute and all he has to say is a story in return. Solomon tells them a story about two brothers that have two separate spaces of land and they each grow their own crops.
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One brother has a large family while the other lives alone. One winter, each of the brothers decide that the other brother needs more crop than himself. They are confused for when they return to their shop, there aren't any crops missing. The brothers try to exchange crops for three days until they realize what is happening. When they finally figure it out, they are overcome with love. Solomon turns to the two brothers fighting over land and they come to the agreement that their fathers property is theirs together. I might use this story when talking about sharing and relationships and unconditional love. Genre: Non-fiction, Myth Show Less
LibraryThing member jenniferm14
One City, Two Brothers tells a story about Solomon teaching two brothers a lesson by telling them a myth about how the city of Jerusalem and temple came to existence. It is appropriate for primary readers, but I would not recommend it for school reading because it does have areas that highlight the
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Muslim religion. Show Less
ISBN
1846860423 / 9781846860423