Noah's Brother facts for kids

Noah's Brother is a fun and imaginative children's book written by the British author Dick King-Smith. It was first published in 1985. This story tells us about Noah's older brother, Yessah, who was never mentioned in the original Bible story. Yessah gets his nickname from his nephews because he always says "Yessah" to his brother's many orders. His full name, Hazardikladoran, was just too long to say! The book explores Yessah's important role in building the Ark and helping during its long journey.

Meet Yessah, Noah's Older Brother

In the story, Yessah is often treated like a servant by his family. He is given all the toughest jobs. He has to cut down the trees needed to build the giant Ark. He also paints the Ark with sticky pitch to make it waterproof. Later, he is in charge of collecting all the animals. During the long voyage, he even has to clean up after them!

Yessah's Animal Friends

Even though Yessah works very hard, he finds friendship on his journey. He becomes very close with two beautiful white doves. He names them 'Peace' and 'Goodwill'. These two doves become his best friends. They even help him gather all the different animals before the Ark sets sail. Their friendship makes his difficult tasks a little easier.

Saving the Ark from Trouble

One day, a big problem threatens the Ark. The lower decks start to fill with too much water. The portholes, which are like windows, begin to sink below the water line. This means the Ark could start to sink! Yessah quickly thinks of a clever plan. He gets the largest animals to plug the portholes with their bottoms. This buys him enough time to pump the water out of the Ark. Thanks to Yessah's quick thinking, the Ark and everyone on board are saved.

Life After the Flood

After many days, Peace, one of Yessah's doves, is sent out to find dry land. Eventually, the Ark stops moving. Noah and the rest of the family decide to leave the Ark. They leave while Yessah is out exploring Mount Ararat. They do this to avoid dealing with him, as they see him as an "inconvenience."

Even though he is left alone, Yessah feels happy. He realizes he has a good life. He is thankful that he survived the great flood. He also appreciates the strong friendships he made with the animals. Yessah lives the rest of his life peacefully with his loyal friends, Peace and Goodwill.