Review: A Ring for a King
A Ring for a King: A Tale of King Solomon
by Martha Seif Simpson, illustrated by D. Yael Bernhard
Wisdom Tales, 2025
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Rebecca Klempner
When King Solomon's (fictional) cup-bearer Ezra brings the king his evening wine one night, the king complains that he has two problems: "I struggle to find the right words to make a sad person hopeful or a proud person humble." Ezra decides he will help King Solomon by asking the other workers in the palace for advice. However, his quest distracts him from his job, and Ezra is sent away by the cook after he causes a tray to crash to the floor.
Believing that the only way to redeem himself is to solve King Solomon's problem, he wanders around asking people "What can make a sad person hopeful and a proud person humble?" Most people have no answer. However, when Ezra helps a farmer pick up the pomagranates that have tumbled from his basket, the farmer offers him a ring with three letters: gimmel, zayin, and yud.
Ezra runs back to the palace and gives the ring to the king. King Solomon realizes the letters stand for "Gam zeh ya'avor---this too will pass." Grateful for the solution to his problems, he offers Ezra a prize. Ezra accepts it but vows to remain humble, for he knows "This too shall pass."
While fictionalized, Simpson's retelling of the midrash is pretty straightforward. I wonder if some readers will find the book's approach too traditional---not in messaging, but in setting and slightly didactic storytelling. On the other hand, I think other readers will appreciate the timeless nature of the story told. Bernhard's illustrations are soft and also largely traditional---but the depiction of the Jews of King Solomon's court is delightfully diverse and they clearly took care to render illustrations which evoke the scenery of Jerusalem and refer to artifacts from ancient Judea.
Although Simpson focused the story on the adorable young cup-bearer---a fictional character---she leans heavily on the original midrash, and it represents an authentic Jewish worldview. Yet it's broad enough to appeal to non-Jews looking for life lessons.
Believing that the only way to redeem himself is to solve King Solomon's problem, he wanders around asking people "What can make a sad person hopeful and a proud person humble?" Most people have no answer. However, when Ezra helps a farmer pick up the pomagranates that have tumbled from his basket, the farmer offers him a ring with three letters: gimmel, zayin, and yud.
Ezra runs back to the palace and gives the ring to the king. King Solomon realizes the letters stand for "Gam zeh ya'avor---this too will pass." Grateful for the solution to his problems, he offers Ezra a prize. Ezra accepts it but vows to remain humble, for he knows "This too shall pass."
While fictionalized, Simpson's retelling of the midrash is pretty straightforward. I wonder if some readers will find the book's approach too traditional---not in messaging, but in setting and slightly didactic storytelling. On the other hand, I think other readers will appreciate the timeless nature of the story told. Bernhard's illustrations are soft and also largely traditional---but the depiction of the Jews of King Solomon's court is delightfully diverse and they clearly took care to render illustrations which evoke the scenery of Jerusalem and refer to artifacts from ancient Judea.
Although Simpson focused the story on the adorable young cup-bearer---a fictional character---she leans heavily on the original midrash, and it represents an authentic Jewish worldview. Yet it's broad enough to appeal to non-Jews looking for life lessons.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE? CLICK HERE
Reviewer Rebecca Klempner is the author of over 100 works, including articles, short stories, essays, and books for all ages. Her books published for children are A Dozen Daisies for Raizy, Glixman in a Fix, Adina at Her Best---a PJ Our Way selection---and, most recently, How to Welcome an Alien. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children where she squeezes writing in between editing other people's books, a little gardening, and a lot of housework.
Comments
Post a Comment