The Wisest Man In The World: A Legend of Ancient Israel by Benjamin Elkin and Anita Lobel.
Written by Benjamin Elkin. Illustrated by Anita Lobel. First edition, 1968. Parents' Magazine Press.
The folklore version of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who tests his fortitude, and his patience, with increasingly difficult challenges.
Benjamin Elkin (1911 - ) is a former teacher, Chicago school principal, and Beginner Books author wrote several memorable children's books, including The Big Jumo, Gillespie and The Guards (a Caldecott Honor book), Six Foolish Fishermen, The King's Wish, and The Wisest Man In The World (also available at The Charmed Bookshop).
I came across a personal recollection in the Amazon reviews for The King's Wish, written by a former North Shore School student about the author's local classroom visits:
"He would pass out Brach's butterscotch candies, perform magic tricks, challenge the kids with riddles, and tell tall tales. What a wonderful blessing it was to have an accomplished author visit our classroom..."
Anita Lobel (1934 - ) is a much-loved children's book illustrator, including her first book Sven's Bridge in 1965, The Wishing Penny and Other Stories, Potatoes, Potatoes, The Wisest Man In The World (also available at The Charmed Bookshop), How The Tsar Drinks Tea, Clever Kate, How The Rooster Saved The Day, One Lighthouse, One Moon, and many others.
Anita and her husband, writer-illustrator Arnold Lobel (1933 - 1987), collaborated on How The Rooster Saved The Day, A Treeful of Pigs, On Market Street (Caldecott Honor Book, 1981), and The Rose In My Garden.
Learn more about Anita Lobel.
http://www.librarypoint.org/anita_lobel
Visit Thecharmedbookshop.com for more first edition children's books.
Condition*: Very good. Without dust jacket, as issued. Cover boards show only minor shelf wear. Pages are clean and tight. Bookplate on front flyleaf. (Acquired from original owner.)
*Based on guidelines of the Independent Online Booksellers' Association.
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