When Solomon Was King

Using the magical ring King Solomon was said to have in Jewish folklore as her starting place—a ring which gave him the power to speak with animals—author Sheila MacGill-Callahan spins an original fairy-tale about the importance of humility and compassion, when dealing with our animal friends. Happening upon a wounded lioness as a youth, Solomon nurses her back to health, observing the other creatures as he does. The wisdom he gains that day and night is lost as he grows older and becomes king however, crowded out by power and pride. Then one day, on a hunt with some of his men, he is reunited with the lioness and her son, and remembers the lesson he had forgotten...

When Solomon Was King is the fourth picture book I have read from show more MacGill-Callahan, who seems to take various folkloric stories and themes as a jumping off point—The Children of Lir, The Seal Prince—and then add her own variation, or spin an original tale as she does here. Whatever one makes of that from a folkloric perspective, her stories are always well told, and very enjoyable. I thought this one was particularly interesting, given that King Solomon is noted for his wisdom in the Bible, and seems a veritable paragon, whereas here he is flawed and must learn his lesson twice. As someone who doesn't believe in human perfection, I think I find the latter more believable. In is certainly very instructive, in terms of teaching a message. This book was published in 1995, the same year that illustrator Stephen T. Johnson released his own Alphabet City, awarded a Caldecott Honor in 1996. Johnson's artwork here, done in watercolor and pastel, is just lovely, capturing the beauty of the natural world and the changes in Solomon's face as he ages. Recommended to young readers who enjoy folk and fairy-tale style stories, and to anyone looking for picture book biblical fiction. show less