In the beginning of the book, Miriam is portrayed as being jealous of all the attention that her baby brother, Moses, is getting. The book says, "She wasn't sure she wanted a baby brother. Just look how they fussed over Moses!.... 'Hummf' thought Miriam. 'Maybe if I make the most special basket, they will fuss over me.' " After the above, the book says "But Pharaoh, King of Egypt, ordered that all Hebrew babies must die."