Lemuel the Fool

“At night, while the other villagers dreamed of catching fish, Lemuel dreamed of sailing over the horizon.”

Lemuel is a fisherman and a fool. When he sets out on a journey across the sea, he makes sure to tie a red scarf on the bow and a rope to the stern; with the scarf waving before him and the rope trailing behind, he’ll always know he’s going the right direction.

Disoriented after a storm, Lemuel lands near a strange new village—except that it’s strangely familiar, down to the woman who looks exactly like his own dear wife and even calls him by name.

Later that night, a very confused Lemuel sets sail for home and away from the madness. With the red scarf before him and the rope trailing behind, he’s confident he’ll arrive at home again—and be safely back among the familiar.

A great fan of Jewish folklore, especially the rich tradition of “fools,” Myron Uhlberg also looked to his own family for inspiration when writing Lemuel the Fool. His maternal grandfather, John, was consumed by wanderlust and “the next great adventure.” Young readers will enjoy the silly charm of Lemuel’s journey, beautifully illustrated by Sonja Lamut.