There is a lovely old legend which tells how the site of Jerusalem was chosen. It speaks of two brothers who lived long ago on opposite sides of a large hill. Although they lived their separate lives, each cared for his brother deeply. During a time of scarce crops, each brother, concerned for the other's welfare, gathered some of his own crops and set off up the hill. At the top they met, and there, where they embraced in love, the city of Jerusalem sprang up generations later and Solomon built his temple. Freedman's liberally embellished version of the legend is told in short, simple sentences. Parker echoes the simplicity in his striking full-page watercolor illustrations with pen-and-ink detail. The use of shadows and subtle shadings gives a feeling of warmth to the golden-toned afternoons and the brilliant blueness of night. The religious aspect of this Hebrew legend has been played down here, giving it universal appeal. The result is a small but lovely treasure with a lesson of love still meaningful for today's children.
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