Martha Seif Simpson’s new picture book, A RING FOR A KING: A TALE OF KING SOLOMON (Wisdom Tales, 2025), illustrated by D. Yael Bernhard, is an adaptation of the beloved tale of King Solomon. In the story, King Solomon struggles to find helpful words to encourage his people experiencing hardships until he receives advice from an unlikely source: a wise and thoughtful young servant named Ezra. Ezra offers the king an intriguing gift that ultimately helps solve the dilemma and inspires a message that uplifts others. D. Yael Bernhard’s lovely illustrations provide a setting that illuminates the story’s text. I look forward to learning more about the creation of A RING FOR A KING. Welcome, Martha!
What inspired you to create a retelling of the Ring For A King folktale?
Hi Barbara. Thank you for helping me introduce A Ring For a King to your readers.
I had heard someone tell the story “This too shall pass” a few years ago and it resonated with me. I happened upon it again in an anthology of folktales from around the world while I was stuck at home during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Certainly, the message seemed like a timely bit of advice, for kids as well as adults! It made me wonder if the story had ever been retold specifically for children. When I searched for the story online, I couldn’t find any picture books, so I decided to write one.
Did you do research for the setting and other story details? Did you learn any fun or interesting facts that didn’t make it into your story?
In researching the story, I learned that the phrase had been common in Persian culture and was attributed to a 13th century Persian Sufi poet named Farid Al-din Attar of Nishapu. The story was retold throughout history, and rings, amulets, and even tattoos have been discovered engraved with “This too shall pass.” Apparently, Abraham Lincoln knew the story because he referenced it in a campaign speech in 1859.
However, most of the versions I found involved King Solomon, who ruled in Israel from around 970 to 931 BCE. In every King Solomon tale, he challenged or consulted with a soldier, advisor, or another man to help him find the perfect words to “make a sad person happy and a happy person sad.” I decided to keep the setting in biblical times but create a new character – a servant boy – so the story would appeal to children. Although my manuscript generally received good feedback, people who read it questioned why the king would want to make “a happy person sad,” even though those were the exact words that appeared in every version of the story I had found. I realized that phrase didn’t make much sense in today’s world, so I changed the King Solomon’s wish to “make a sad person hopeful and a proud person humble,” which I think more closely reflected his intentions.
What were your thoughts when you saw the Illustrations by D. Yael Bernhard?
Yael and I had already worked on two books together for Wisdom Tales, The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah and Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim. Both books feature a special object in the title that Yael created with beautiful, intricate designs. I knew she would bring that same attention to detail when she illustrated King Solomon’s ring.
In her Artist’s Note, Yael explained the inspiration for her illustrations. I love how she used that research to create costumes, architecture, and colorful patterns to establish the time and place and to bring Ezrah and the other characters to life. I’m thrilled with the eye-catching border on the cover of the book that really draws you in. I think Yael did an outstanding job with the artwork.
What does the saying “This too shall pass” mean to you personally?
Even before I had heard the story, “This too shall pass,” I had my own version of the phrase that would keep me going when I felt down. Back when I was a kid, seventh grade was a particularly awful year, and I had to remind myself that “this won’t last forever” and if I could just get through it, better times would lie ahead. That sentiment has given me comfort and made me determined to survive rough episodes many times in my life. Hopefully, people who read or hear my story will also benefit from this little bit of wisdom.
As I mentioned before, I wrote A Ring for a King while trying to get through the uncertainties and despair of the pandemic. I’m starting to see other books that were written during that time, as well. I think it’s important to recognize that good things can come from troubled times. “This too shall pass” was timely advice in the past and is still true today.
Thank you, Martha!
Martha Seif Simpson is the former Head of Children’s Services at the Stratford Library, where she worked for 28 years. She is a past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee and now volunteers at a synagogue library. Martha is the author of What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day, The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin, and Esther’s Gragger. She lives in Hamden, CT. Find her on Facebook at Martha Kidlit Author and on her website: www.martha-seif-simpson.com.