Uzu and Muzu from the Village of Kakamaruzu / Ages 6-9 years
This rhymed tale will delight any child who has ever quarrelled over nonsense. With sly humor and at a breakneck pace, Ephraim Sidon pokes fun at Uzu and Muzu, two brothers whose love was so great, "They had never known bitterness, anger or hate."
"When Uzu was eight and Muzu was two,
Uzu wore nappies and played peek-a-boo.
And when Uzu was thirteen and bristles appeared,
Muzu, aged eight, started sprouting a beard.
If Uzu was tired, Muzu went to sleep.
If Muzu was wounded, Uzu would weep"
Yet one day the two fought, even taking up pitchfork and hoe. "And the point over which the whole friendship was lost? Which leg goes on top when you sit with them crossed." They build a giant wall splitting their house in two and never speak to each other again. From generation to generation the dreadful legend of the hideous people on the other side of the wall is embellished, but the source of the enmity has been forgotten and no one remembers who built the wall and why. Two small great-great-great grandchildren bring the wall down in a hilarious tongue-in-cheek ending.
Illustrations: Yossi Abolafia
