The Wonderbird

Ruth Almog`s novel for young readers shows how children often have to dig in their heels to keep their names.

Ofek has a number of problems and no one seems to have the solution. The new Russian girl in his class, Tatiana-Tamar (as Hebraized by the teacher), won`t talk to anyone. But she keeps poking Ofek with her pencil, so he calls her Cactus. Tatiana-Tamar-Cactus agrees to stop poking him if he`ll explain what his name means, but Ofek doesn`t know. “Ofek” means horizon, his mother explains, and as he is drawing imaginary lines for the horizon, his picture turns into a bird that is part-swan and part-stork – a swork, a wonderbird! Ofek puts things right for the new girl when he convinces the teacher to give her her real name, Tatiana, back.