The Littlest Mountain

By: Barb Rosenstock
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
Publication Date: March 2011
ISBN: 978-0761344957
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 2011

Many people were calm and gentle, helping one another, yet others wielded their swords high to viciously fight their enemies. God grew impatient with his people and decided to call “all of the mountains together” to talk with them about the situation. The mountains agreed with God about the problems of the world and listened closely when he talked about giving them “laws to follow so that the world will finally know peace.” God had a choice to make and that choice was which mountain was most suitable to deliver his message, a message that would lay out a set of rules for his people to follow and bring peace to the world.

The mountains began to churn with activity, spouting out their assets in order to curry favor with God. The winds began to whirl among the mountains and they “joined in a great circle and danced.” They began to step forward, one by one, trying to convince him that they would be the perfect choice. There was one mountain, however, that stood back because “Its slopes were far too rocky for anyone to want.” Mt. Sinai simply would not be a practical choice for anyone to use for such an honor. Mount Hermon, Mount Tabor, Mount Ebal, Mount Moriah and others were certain they were more than suitable for the task. Which mountain would be the one chosen to give God’s message?

This simple, yet beautiful tale explains why God chose Mt. Sinai to deliver the Ten Commandments. According to the author, this tale is an adaptation of “The Contest of the Mountains” from the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 99:1). Each mountain carries with it the little quirks, good and bad, of the human personality. Mt. Sinai is quiet, modest, peaceful, and respectful of the others, qualities that God appreciated and wanted in a mountain that would deliver his message. The watercolors have an aura of peace about them and mesh nicely with this legend.

Quill says: This is a delightful, unique tale that you might wish to consider adding to your library shelves!