The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Martha Seif Simpson, Yael Bernhard & Review of A Ring For a King
Martha Seif Simpson is an award-winning librarian and the former Head of Children’s Services at the Stratford Library in Stratford, CT, where she worked for 28 years. She is active in the American Library Association and the Association of Jewish Libraries and is a past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee. She now volunteers at a synagogue library.
Martha lives in Connecticut when she’s not travelling around the world with her husband. Check her website for printable book activities and her monthly newsletter, The Simpsonian Muse, which features photos from her travel adventures.
Martha is the author of What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother's Day, illustrated by Jana Christy (2013), The Dreidel that Wouldn't Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah (2014), and Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim (2019). Prior to her children’s books, Martha published five library resource books.
Yael Bernhard was raised in New York’s Hudson Valley and began painting at the age of 13. Her education is a mix of independent study and formal art training at the Art Students’ League of NY, the School of Visual Arts, Purchase College, and Empire State College.
She is the illustrator and/or author of numerous children’s books – including fiction and non-fiction, natural science titles and multicultural folktales. She brings a variety of influences to her work, including a lifelong passion for West African music and dance, Eastern and Western religion, nutrition and cooking, and the natural world. Her experience as the mother of three children and as an arts-in-ed teacher has also shaped her creative work.
Yael is the author/illustrator of over 40 books and the author of 10, including Just Like Me, Climbing a Tree: Exploring Trees Around the World (2015), and the illustrator of Trouble: An Ethiopian Trading Adventure in Anuak and English by Jane Kurtz (2022), Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim by Martha Seif Simpson (2019), The Dreidel that Wouldn't Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah by Martha Seif Simpson (2014), Never Say a Mean Word Again: A Tale from Medieval Spain by Jacqueline Jules (2014), and Green Bible Stories for Children by Tami Lehman-Wilzig (2011).
Their new picture book, A Ring For a King: A Tale of King Solomon, releases April 1st.
Welcome Martha and Yael, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about yourselves and your book.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate?)
MARTHA - I’ve been writing on and off since I was a teenager. But I’m not one of those disciplined writers who get up at 6 am and pound out 500 words before breakfast. Instead, when I think of a plot, character, or find something that intrigues me, I add it to a list of possible story ideas. Inspiration might come from an object - like a dreidel or gragger. Or I might read a folktale and come up with an idea to write it from a different point of view. Sometimes, I’ll read a news article that sparks an idea. Eventually, a story idea will separate from the pack, get stuck in my head and nag me until I have to sit down at my desk to do research online and write down my thoughts. Often, I’ll make notes and let them marinate in my head for a while until I feel ready to form actual sentences. Then the story might rush out all at once or come a few paragraphs at a time. There’s no definite pattern! I mostly write picture books but I’ve written a few chapter books that I hope will get published someday.
YAEL - I’ve been painting since I was 13, and decided to become an illustrator and book designer in my freshman year of college. I’m also a fine art painter, and have learned to move between commercial and fine art, striving to blur the boundary between the two.
I’ve illustrated all kinds of picture books – fiction stories, concept books, natural science titles, multicultural books. The more fanciful the story, the more imaginative the art can be.
It is wonderful to meet you both! Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
MARTHA – Both of my parents worked so I didn’t go to the library much until I was old enough to walk there on my own. I started first grade in 1960 and I really wanted to learn how to read, but those Dick and Jane books were so boring! In third grade, our reading textbook had a chapter from Henry Huggins. I loved it so much, I ran to the library to check out the book. I read everything I could find by Beverly Cleary and went on from there. I didn’t really have any favorite picture books or easy readers until I had my own children and started checking out books for them. My first child loved books by Syd Hoff, Dr. Suess, Eric Carle, and Richard Scarry, among others. It was fun to discover old and new books with him and my other children.
YAEL - Too many to choose! I certainly loved Maurice Sendak and Where the Wild Things Are. Dr. Seuss’s books were also a big part of my childhood. Several French picture books, such as Madeleine and What Good Luck, What Bad Luck also made an impression on me.
Great books. Martha, what was the inspiration or spark of interest for A Ring For a King: A Tale of King Solomon?
MARTHA – A Ring For a King is an adaptation of a story from ancient times that has been passed down through the years. In most versions, King Solomon wants to find the perfect words that would comfort someone who suffers misfortune while also offering advice for someone who is prosperous. A servant, soldier, or some other common person goes out to find that special phrase to tell the king. The message of the story is that nothing – bad times as well as good times – lasts forever.
I’d heard this story years ago and came across it again in a folktale anthology in 2020 while we were experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic, and no one knew when it would end. I thought the story’s message was particularly appropriate for such an uncertain time. Every version of the story I found was geared to adults and the characters were always men. I decided to write it from the point of view of a servant boy so my story would appeal to a younger audience.
I love your twist to the fable and the personality of the boy. Yael, what about the A Ring For a King manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
YAEL - This was a great opportunity for me to use my own visual research which I had gathered on a trip to Israel over ten years ago. I was especially pleased to use my photographs from the Tower of David Museum, which tells the history of Jerusalem. These photos were taken as part of my research for a picture book titled The Life of an Olive, about a 2000-year-old olive tree in the Galilee, and the history that unfolds in the course of its lifetime. Sitting in an olive grove and drawing at sunset is another treasured memory.
That sounds like an amazing research trip. What a wonderful place to draw and create! What is a (or the most) fun or unusual place where you’ve written a manuscript or created an illustration?
MARTHA - I get some of my best ideas when I’m driving! Usually, I’m on a highway or in traffic and I can’t stop to make notes. Since I don’t have a voice-activated recorder, I repeat the idea in my head (or out loud) over and over again until I get to my destination and can finally write it down.
One time, I was at a friend’s wedding when I got an email from an editor asking me to revise a story I had submitted. So in between the morning wedding ceremony and the evening reception, I was in my hotel room writing.
YAEL - Driving through the Judean Desert in Israel on the way to Masada, before dawn. Ultimately I had to do this painting from memory, but the towering mesas backlit by a starlit sky stayed with me.
These both sound like fun times and great exercises of your memory. Martha, what was the toughest part of writing A Ring For a King? What was the most fun?
MARTHA – Every version of the story I found had the king ask, “What can you say to make a sad person happy and a happy person sad?” But when I used that wording in my story, everyone told me it didn’t make sense to want to make a happy person sad. I tried various phrases to use instead and none of them worked. It took a few weeks until I finally came up with, “What can you say to make a sad person hopeful and a proud person humble?”
The most fun was getting to work with Yael and our editor, Roger Gaetani, again. They always have good ideas to make my story even better.
Wow, that would be a tough phrase to capture, but I think you did a great job in the end. Yael, what’s the hardest part of illustrating picture books? What was the toughest part of illustrating A Ring For a King? What was the most fun?
YAEL - Most challenging was drawing the draped cloth that was typical attire in ancient Israel. Art students in centuries past did extensive studies of draped cloth. I have not done that, and wouldn’t even know how to drape the cloth if I could get a friend to model!
Most enjoyable was depicting the people in the King’s palace – once I got their clothing figured out. Illustrations can tell little story snippets apart from the text, which children enjoy discovering. For example, a woman leading a donkey laden with large hanging baskets is shown in the book as a small illustration, and later we see her walking through the palace corridor with one of the baskets on her shoulder, full of pomegranates. Children will realize she has traveled on foot with her donkey to sell her fruit in the palace.
Yael, thank you for sharing that nugget within the illustrations. Martha, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Yael’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
Text © Martha Seif Simpson, 2025. Image © D. Yael Bernhard, 2025.
MARTHA - This was our third book together, so I was familiar with Yael’s style. I knew she always added interesting details to her illustrations, but I was excited to see all the colorful borders she created for this book. Every design, from the borders on the book covers to the trim on King Solomon’s clothes, is uniquely suited for each illustration. For example, on the spread where Ezra runs out of the palace, the bottom border reflects the pattern on the peacock’s tail. I also like the pictures of the ring, where you can see the Hebrew letters. I love all the intricate details Yael works into her illustrations.
I agree that her illustrations are full of fascinating details. Yael, is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?
Text © Martha Seif Simpson, 2025. Image © D. Yael Bernhard, 2025.
YAEL - Yes, I like the spread of the people walking through the palace corridor. We can see the strata of classes in society – a rich man and his servants, two other workers who are apparently disgruntled about something, a shepherd bearing a lamb, a fruit vendor, and of course Ezra.
I love the activity and expressions in these images! How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of A Ring For a King?
MARTHA – I started researching the story in 2020 but didn’t have much time to write because re-imagining library programs for children and dealing with extra administrative duties during the pandemic took up so much of my time and energy. I eventually had a first draft by July 2021 which I kept showing to people and revising until it was ready to submit. I signed the contract with Wisdom Tales in the summer of 2022, and the book debuts on April 1, 2025. So, it was almost four years from first draft to publication.
YAEL - The illustrations took about six months to complete.
What's something you want your readers to know about A Ring For a King?
MARTHA - I think both kids and adults can benefit from the message in the story. Life is full of challenges, so don’t lose hope if times are tough. Like Ezra, look for actions you can take to improve your situation. Even though he had his own troubles, Ezra helped another person who, as it turned out, had the solution to the king’s question. And if you’re privileged and everything is going your way, don’t take it for granted because your luck may change.
This story is also about the power of words. Mean words can hurt, as when the cook banished Ezra. But as King Solomon knew, the right words said with kindness and good intentions have the power to promote comfort and wisdom.
Something I think a lot of people need to remember right now. Yael, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in A Ring For a King? If so, could you share one or more with us?
YAEL - I used a friend who is an orthodox Jew as a model for King Solomon. I thought he had a very regal profile, fit for a king. We got a lot of laughs out of our photo session, as he had to slump down in his “throne” and look dejected! It pleases me to think of this friend sharing the book with his grandchildren.
That's so funny! Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a hint or tidbit with us?
MARTHA - I have an easy reader that’s with an editor now, and several picture books in various stages of revision.
YAEL - I’m working on an educational coloring book about mushrooms! Foraging is one of my passions, so I’m very excited about this project. I also publish a Jewish-themed art calendar each year titled The Jewish Eye Calendar of Art. This year’s calendar will be going to press soon, and should be available beginning in July.
Intriguing. I wish you both the best of luck with your projects. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
MARTHA - I love visiting National Parks and Forests! When our four children were growing up, my husband and I planned our vacations so we could see as many as possible. On one trip, we went to the Grand Canyon but had to leave early when it started to snow. The next day was clear and we drove to Bryce Canyon. It was amazing to see all the snow-capped hoodoos. On another trip, we explored the Redwood Forest and looked up at those giant trees. We’ve also taken a boat ride under Niagara Falls, toured Denali National Park, and visited several more scenic places.
I think my favorite park visit was when we drove through Arches National Park and stopped to admire all the breath-taking formations along the way. Our family visited lots of caves, too. Carlsbad Caverns, Cave of the Mounds, and Luray Caverns are my favorites.
Our kids are now grown and my husband and I are retired, so we have more time to travel. We’ve taken tours up mountains in Norway, Switzerland, and the Rock of Gibraltar, and cruised through the spectacular Fiordland in New Zealand. I could go on, but I think you get the idea that I appreciate nature!
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. Photo Credit: Manu Grinspan
YAEL - I love Ein Gedi National Park in Israel. You can read about my experience and a painting I did there: https://imageoftheweek.substack.com/p/ein-gedi.
Both stunning areas. Thank you, Martha and Yael, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your newest picture book.
To find out more about Martha Seif Simpson, or to contact her:
X (Twitter): https://x.com/MarthaSimpMLS
To find out more about Yael Bernhard, or to contact her:
Website: https://dyaelbernhard.com/
Art Newsletter: https://imageoftheweek.substack.com/archive
Review of A Ring For A King:
A Tale of King Solomon
This tale, of a kind king "looking for the right words to help his people, rich or poor, deal with life’s challenges," shared throughout the years by many cultures, is gently retold through the experiences of a young boy.
A Ring for a King: A Tale of King Solomon
Author: Martha Seif Simpson
Illustrator: D. Yael Bernhard
Publisher: Wisdom Tales (April 1, 2025)
Ages: 4-8
Fiction
Themes:
Folk tale, Jewish, and dealing with challenges.
Synopsis:
A good king is looking for the right words to help his people, rich or poor, deal with life's challenges. Ezra, a humble servant boy, wants to help the king solve his problem. Finally, through a series of mishaps, Ezra hands the king a strange gift—and the perfect words. Many cultures around the world have told versions of this story for centuries. President Abraham Lincoln even included one in a speech. This lively version is adapted from a Jewish source, and it is the great king Solomon who is searching for those precious words to help his people.
Author Simpson and illustrator Bernhard once again invite children into the mystery and excitement of another faraway world.
Opening Lines:
Ezra worked
as a kitchen
servant in the
palace of King
Solomon, the
powerful ruler
of ancient
Israel.
What I LIKED about this book:
Retellings of fables or folktales can be a great way to bring the story (and often with these tales, their moral) to the attention of a younger generation, especially when the main character becomes a child. Martha Seif Simpson reimagined this story through the emotions and experiences of a young servant boy. Many children will identify with making mistakes and trying to make amends.
Text © Martha Seif Simpson, 2025. Image © D. Yael Bernhard, 2025.
Ezra, King Solomon's cup-bearer, is an observant boy who listens to the desperation and the boasts of people as they pass through the palace hallways. An empathetic listener, he vows to help his king try to find a way to "find the right words to make a sad person hopeful or a proud person humble.” But before he can do much, he accidentlly drops a tray of food and is chased from the palace by the cook.
Text © Martha Seif Simpson, 2025. Image © D. Yael Bernhard, 2025.
Yael Bernhard's earth-toned illustrations have so many wonderful elements woven throughout, like the architecture of the City and palace, the period clothing, and her gorgeous pattern banners. She also subtly captures the emotions of the characters, such as this beautiful depiction of Ezra's flight, desperation, and fear of survival. But despite his inner turmoil and insecurity, when a man stumbles and drops a basket of pomegranates, Ezra rushes to help. For his kindness and compassion, the man gifts him a ring with a special inscription.
Text © Martha Seif Simpson, 2025. Image © D. Yael Bernhard, 2025.
It creates an interesting juxtaposition to the cook's reaction to Ezra's mistake. Offering a wonderful look at the pureness and humbleness of Ezra and his desire to help the King - to obtain forgiveness, not personal gain. I'm going to leave you to figure out what the inscription says and how it's still relevant today. A wonderful author's note and illustrator's note wrap the ring's inscription into their own lives. This is a beautiful and touching retelling of an ancient folk tale that will entertain and be relevant to today's young readers.
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