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First Come the Zebra

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Abaani, a Maasai youngster who helps his family by taking the cattle out to graze, notices a new roadside stall one day and another boy selling fruits and vegetables. The boy, Haki, is a member of the Kikuyu tribe. Both boys have learned about the hostilities between the Maasai and the Kikuyu, and it does not take long before they are trading insults and threatening each other. It takes the unexpected need for cooperation to avoid a serious accident for the boys to start a new path toward trust and friendship.

Interwoven into this tale is an important lesson in economics about barter: when the boys resolve their differences they quickly figure out they can exchange cow's milk for produce. The author's note further explains that economic issues are a source of the conflicts between the Maasai and Kikuyu in Kenya, particularly with the Maasai having lost much of their grazing land to new farms, and the Kikuyu having lost crops to cattle that have strayed to their farmland. Lynne Barasch has produced yet another outstanding book as rich in substantive content as it is lovely in artistic impression.

In Kenya as is unfortunately true in many of the world's places people from one tribe, family or region dislike those from another. Why? Often, because it has always been so. That was the case with the Massai and the Kikuyu in FIRST COME THE ZEBRA, a story of encouragement and hope for peace throughout the world.

Set in the grassland of Kenya it is the time of the great migration when almost two million animals will leave Tanzania where all the grass has been eaten to find the lush, green grass in Kenya. First come the zebras who eat only the top of the grass. Next is the wildebeest who eats the middle sections of grass, and finally the Thomson's gazelle who eats the last few inches. A lovely example of sharing.

Abaani is a young Massai boy who helps his family with their cattle by taking them out to graze. One morning he sees a fruit and vegetable stall along the road. He has not seen it before and it is being tended by a Kikuyu boy about Abaani's age. The boys take an immediate dislike to each other, repeating the cruel words they have heard their elders say.

How two small boys learn to know and like each other is the crux of Lynne Barasch's story written in the hope that the youth of all countries will work to change attitudes and opinions so that people will come together and live in peace.

- Gail Cooke

The landscape in Kenya was lush with vegetation, but neighboring Tanzania had its grass "grazed down to the grown." It was time for the wildlife to migrate. First would come the zebra, who would nibble the top of each blade of grass for its nourishment. Next would come the wildebeest for their share and lastly would come the Thompson's gazelle who would "eat the final few inches of the grass." There were other creatures who inhabited these grasslands and they were the Maasi and the Kikuyu. Two boys from each tribe, unlike the animals of the grasslands, would soon find themselves at odds with one another.

Abaani, a young Maasai cattle herder, spotted a Kikuyu tending his family's vegetable stall and asked who he was. "Jina langu ni Haki." His name was Haki and became angry when Abaani, whose tribe highly valued their cattle, accused his people of destroying their land. After a nasty verbal exchange, Haki went back to work tending his stall. Some women had come to exchange their baskets for produce and he had to pay attention. One of the women put her young toddler on the ground so she could make her selection. The baby started to wander and held his arms out toward some fierce warthogs "rooting in the grass." Abaani became greatly alarmed because he would not be able to save the baby alone. Would Abaani and Kikuyu, tribal enemies, be able to put aside their differences and save this child?

The gentle message that people should put aside their differences and unite for the good of all was very inspiring. This unique book gives a nice bit of history not only about African animal migration, but also about tribal customs and feelings toward other groups. The soothing watercolors lent a lot to this work and meshed perfectly, giving the reader a feel for the African grassland. In the back of the book is a small inset map, a pronunciation guide and glossary and a very interesting note describing in more detail the customs and culture of the Maasai and the Kikuyu and their ongoing rivalry. This would be an excellent read and discuss book in the homeschool or classroom setting!

"First Come the Zebra" is a beautiful, sensitively illustrated book about two young boys of Kenya from rival tribes. Albaani is a young Maasai boy who herds cattle every day. Haki is a Kikuyu boy who sells vegetables planted and tended by Kikuyu farmers. The two tribes are historic rivals for the resources of land, grass, and water. Despite their differences, Haki and Albaani find a way to cooperate in a crisis and gradually they become friends, even sharing joy in a game of mancala. Just as the animals who graze the grasslands share the wealth and resources of the land, Haki and Albaani begin to think of ways they can share their resources and work together rather than struggling uselessly against each other. "First Come the Zebra" is a hopeful fable of cooperative prosperity, and its precious text is brought to full realization by the delicate ink and watercolor illustrations. "First Come the Zebras" will appeal to children age 5 and up.

This was a very sweet story about putting aside differences and prejudices. The art was very pretty and would keep a children's eye moving about the page. Very enjoyable!