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Title: King Solomon and His Magic Ring by Elie Wiesel, Mark Podwal ISBN: 0-688-16959-7 Publisher: Greenwillow Pub. Date: 26 August, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 2 (1 review)
Rating: 2
Summary: Book Review: King Solomon and His Magic Ring, by Elie Wiesel
Comment: Elie Wiesel's new children's book, King Solomon and His Magic Ring, is an unpleasantly surprising work. Wiesel, author of over forty works of fiction and non-fiction, stuns readers with an uninspiring, bland retelling of a famous legend. He attempts to catch our children's attention with a thin spidery plot that is difficult to grasp.
As a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Wiesel could have done much better for himself. Instead, he has written one more book that we are able to add to the growing pile of poorly written children's books lacking in stimuli. Surely, "Not only was Solomon the wisest of all rulers, he was also the mightiest." (12). Well, not only is that line cliché, it's also not something that would excite a young mind.
Speaking of exciting, the paintings featured in this piece are of very high quality and talent. However, they are not suitable for children. The art is too dark and depicts demons, giants, lions, and other things that might frighten younger readers. In addition to boring or perhaps scaring today's youth, Wiesel has also managed to impress upon them a couple of incorrect teachings, including one about women. "Solomon's worst mistake? His marriage to the daughter of the Pharaoh." (36) The daughter of the Pharaoh gives a poor example of women. The book describes her as an enthralling dancer who later tricks Solomon whilst he is under her spell. Not all women are evil temptresses out to control men through manipulative ways; the author should make that clear.
Now, what about this magic ring? "From the moment he slipped the ring on his finger, Solomon's authority extended over everything from spirits and animals to the wind." (14) That sounds a bit like mind control. Add that to the way Wiesel portrays King Solomon; a reader might think Wiesel was advocating ruling with an iron fist. Children's books are meant to be entertaining, yes, but not to cause the youngster to reach for incorrect ideals.
Our media claims '90's youth is desensitized to television murders and sex in the movies. However, since children are taught that books are the alleys towards truth, they tend to try to learn from them, rather than media. Let Wiesel not inadvertently poison the minds of tomorrow with works such as this.
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Title: Ancient Near East (Coloring Book) by Bellerophon Books ISBN: 0883880024 Publisher: Bellerophon Books Pub. Date: December, 1983 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: King Solomon & the Queen of Sheba by Blu Greenberg, Avi Katz, Linda Tarry ISBN: 0943706904 Publisher: Pitspopany Press Pub. Date: October, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide by Marian Broida, Gary Beckman ISBN: 1556523602 Publisher: Chicago Review Press Pub. Date: November, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Brundibar by Tony Kushner, Maurice Sendak, Michael di Capua ISBN: 0786809043 Publisher: Hyperion Press Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom ISBN: 0786868716 Publisher: Hyperion Press Pub. Date: 23 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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