The arguers

In this original fairy tale from Corinna Luyken, who also created The Book of Mistakes, a kingdom's people have forgotten how to get along. It all began with a quarrel over whether a brush or a comb would be better for untangling the king's beard. Then came a dispute over letters, then one over spoons, and soon everyone was arguing all the time. Nobody could remember when it started, what it was about, or who began it. They only knew that they had always argued, and that they were very, very good at it.

So the king and queen decide to hold a contest to find the best arguer in the land. But the plan runs into a problem. Everyone is so busy arguing that no one can even hear the queen announce the start of the contest.