When Abaani, a Maasai boy, sees young Haki's Kikuyu vegetable stall near his family's grazing land, he repeats what he's heard from his elders: 'You destroy our land!' Haki, of course, takes offense, and the boys are ready to become enemies. This story uses that age-old conflict as a vehicle for contemplating enmity and friendship. The two groups often fight about land use. Gr 2-5 In Kenya, the Maasai are cattle herders and the more numerous Kikuyu are farmers.

Lynne Barasch was inspired to write First Come the Zebra by the beauty of the land and people of Kenya, which she visited in 2007. This appealing story is an encouraging tribute to the potential of today's youth to make a difference in the world. Little do the boys know they have also taken the first step in overcoming their differences and forging a path to friendship.įramed by the annual great migration of animals to Kenya, First Come the Zebra looks beyond current conflicts toward the hope for peaceful coexistence. Abaani calls to Haki, and together they act quickly. They take an immediate dislike to each other.Ī short while later, as customers surround Haki's stall, a dangerous situation suddenly arises. The boys know of the traditional conflicts between the Maasai and the Kikuyu.

One day when Abaani, a Maasai boy, takes his family's cattle out to graze, he is surprised to see a Kikuyu boy, Haki, tending a new fruit and vegetable stall alongside the road. The story of two young Kenyan boys, one Maasai and one Kikuyu, who find a way to overcome their traditional rivalries and become friends. By Grade + Interest - K to 1st By Grade + Interest - 2nd to 3rd By Grade + Interest - 4th to 5th

Radio Rescue by Lynne Barasch