“Inspired
by a legend about a Jewish vizier who advised the Muslim ruler of
medieval Spain, this story tells of a conundrum faced by a boy named
Samuel and the counterintuitive wisdom of his father, the vizier. After
Samuel accidentally offends Hamza, the tax collector’s son, and incurs
his rage (‘Donkey Brain! Stupid! Look what you did!’), Samuel’s father
instructs him, ‘Make sure Hamza never says a mean word to you again.’
With illuminating details—such as the boys’ headwear, backdrops of
thick stone walls or heavy wooden doors, geometric patterns in mauves
and browns, and a vine and flower motif—Bernhard’s (Around the World in One Shabbat)
illustrations convey an elegant, multicultural castle environment.
Energy and movement infuse the paintings, which humorously render
Samuel’s contemplated strategies (‘Maybe he could train a monkey to sit
on Hamza’s shoulders. The monkey could clamp Hamza’s lips shut’).
Jules’s (the Zapato Power series) down-to-earth narrative communicates
Samuel’s subtle internal transformation as the unexpected, amusing, and
touching outcomes of his attempts to obey his father turn a power
struggle into a budding friendship. Ages 4–8.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A story of bullying, acceptance, and friendship, Never Say a Mean Word Again: A Tale from Medieval Spain,
by Jacqueline Jules, is loosely inspired by a legend about a Jewish
poet who was the vizier and military commander to the Muslim caliph (or
king). It is a delightful account of turning meanness and rudeness into
kindness and friendship.…
“Jules has crafted a folk tale that is sure to please. She writes in a
gracious and enjoyable way, with simplicity and humor, as evidenced in
one of Samuel’s dismissed ideas: “Maybe he could train a monkey to sit
on Hamza’s shoulders. The monkey could clamp Hamza’s lips shut.
Training a monkey would take time. And where would he get a monkey?”
This wonderful story is basic enough for young children to follow, and
entertaining for adults.
“Durga Yael Bernhard has constructed appealing acrylic illustrations,
with Moorish-influenced designs. Her muted color choices and smooth
designs complement the text wonderfully, calmly propelling the story
forward.
“The cover is designed with the title in the center, two boys (Samuel
and Hamza) on either side of the title, all in the middle of an
illustrated design. The back cover gives a short synopsis of the book
inside of the similar design on the front, giving the book a cohesive
feeling. The internal layout is pleasant and easy to follow, with a
striking font that is easy to read, and perfectly accompanied by the
illustrations. The book ends with an author’s note about the origins of
the story, and information about the time and place of the historical
events.
“A moral tale of friendship, Never Say a Mean Word Again: A Tale from Medieval Spain, has an admirable story guided by marvelous illustrations that will inspire children and adults.”
—Beth VanHouten, from a review in ForeWord Reviews
“Rare is the children’s book that, by virtue of its illustrations and
story, can be vaulted into the ranks of the classics, those stories
such as
Where the Wild Things Are that can cross across generational divides and hold up to the discerning tastes of ever-fickle toddlers.
“
Never Say a Mean Word Again has the potential to join these greats.
“Inspired by a medieval legend about the Jewish poet Samuel Ha-Nagid,
the highest royal adviser in Muslim-controlled Granada, Jacqueline
Jules’ prose — backed by the rich illustrations of Durga Yael Bernhard
— tells the story of the grand vizier’s son, Samuel, who struggles
against the wiles of Hamza, the insolent son of the tax collector. His
father’s sole advice? ‘Make sure Hamza never says a mean word to you
again.’
“While at first the boy wants to extract punishment, in time he
befriends Hamza; indeed, the two boys never again fall prey to conflict.
“It’s a tale of peace badly needed in the troubled hours known as
bedtime. But be forewarned: One of the childhood insults mentioned in
the book will for sure have your kids roaring with laughter.”
—
Joshua Runyan, from a review in the
Baltimore Jewish Times
“In this loose adaptation of a medieval legend, Samuel Ha-Nagid, the
eleventh century Jewish poet and royal advisor in Muslim Granada, is
reimagined as the grand vizier’s son. Prone to daydreaming and
clumsiness, Samuel manages to offend Hamza, the son of the Muslim tax
collector… Hamza, in a fit of anger, calls Samuel a ‘donkey brain’ and
‘stupid.’ Samuel’s father overhears the one-sided verbal exchange and
instructs his son to ‘make sure Hamza never says a mean word to you
again.’ Samuel finds this is easier said than done… [Illustrator]
Bernhard’s earth-toned illustrations with stylized mosaic flowers and
arch motifs enhance the story’s multicultural flavor. An author’s note
provides historical background.
Never Say a Mean Word Again should be required reading for all youngsters—and adults—as a means to promote civility and cooperation.”
—
Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews, from a review by Allison Marks, Temple Israel Library, Akron, OH
“Jacqueline Jules'
Never Say a Mean Word Again: A Tale from Medieval Spain tells of the wisest man in the kingdom who orders [his son] Samuel to
be sure Hamza never says a mean word to [him] again. Two boys, one
Jewish and one Muslim, work at settling their differences in this
compelling tale of a boy given the power to punish his enemy … [This,
and Paul Goble's
Horse Raid] are powerful recommendations for youngsters looking for folktales about bravery, ethics and heroism.”
—
Children's Bookwatch, a review publication of
Midwest Book Review
“Each
contemplation [of Samuel as he thinks of ways to get revenge] is
brilliantly displayed using acrylics that capture tones fostering the
story. During each encounter between the boys, the reader sees the boys
acting like playmates rather than enemies, while the vizier is
ever-present in the background. In addition to these light-hearted
moments, throughout the text, the muted images of buildings, arches,
and period attire capture the Moorish Spain of the story.
“This story is inspired by a medieval legend that surrounds the life of
Jewish poet Samuel Ha-Nagid. He was also a vizier or highest advisor in
Muslim Granada, in Spain. A similar incident happened to the poet when
Ha-Nagid was an adult. The author imagines what would happen if this
had happened to [Ha-Nagid’s] son. Still maintaining the essence of the
tale, Jules is able to capture a story that can be used to address the
topics of friendship, bullying, and conflict resolution. The book
provides additional background on Ha-Nagid and even details how during
the time of the poet, “The Golden Age of Spain,” Spain and Portugal
welcomed Muslims and often respected them for their customs and
cultural ideas.
“At a time when bullying behavior is increasing and a need for
discussing conflict is a necessity, this book is a welcomed addition to
the classroom. Unlike some news headlines, the depiction of Muslims is
positive and peaceful. The book is aimed for young audiences (ages 5
and up) but can easily be relevant in upper elementary. We all need
resources that demonstrate the value of friendship and kind actions.
“This book richly deserves the 2014 Aesop accolade for Children’s and
Young Adult Literature serving as a testament to help children value
kindness over anger.”
—2014 Aesop Prize Committee (taken from their review comments in awarding the book an Aesop Accolade)
“‘Sticks and stones’ gets a novel outing in this lush picture book
based on a medieval legend. The original tale concerns an important
Jewish adult who lived during the Golden Age of Spain. Here, author
Jules translates the action to two young boys, one Jewish, Samuel, one
Muslim, Hamza, to demonstrate the hurtful power of words and a peaceful
way to change anger to friendship
. . . With humor and age-appropriate logic, Samuel tries out different ideas on a daily basis to coax Hamza from his bullying
. . . The illustrations capture the boys, their emotions, the action, and the
setting’s time and place in graceful, artistic, evocative style. Colors
and designs draw readers into long ago and far away while the plot and
dialog salute the timeless human condition. Highly recommended as a
strong Jewish addition to a library or home ‘bully issue shelf’ and
recommended to ages 5 to 7 as a charming tale.”
—from a review by Ellen G. Cole in
Jewish Book World (a starred review)
“
Never Say a Mean Word Again . . . reworks a story about the medieval poet Samuel Ha-Nagid, an adviser to the Berber court during the golden age of Moorish rule
. . . Jules turns the tale into a conflict between two boys, one Muslim and one Jewish, and shows how to make a friend of an enemy
. . . Never Say a Mean Word Again is an odd, lovely story infused with anger, confusion, and touches of
humor. Bright colors depict fancy robes, beautiful architecture, and
the swirling curlicues of Islamic art. The afterword explains the tale
and gives parents a lot to discuss about modern-day conflict
resolution, power imbalances, and the prospect of peace.”
—from a review in
Tablet, as part of
Tablet’s list of “The Best Jewish Children’s Books of 2014”
“Writer Jacqueline Jules has taken this multicultural tale and made it
into a touching parable about turning an enemy into a friend. The
glorious illustrations of Durga Yael Bernhard give us a sense of
medieval Spain
. . . . Never Say a Mean Word Again celebrates the art of making an enemy into a friend which in today's
world of ethnic violence and hatred is a spiritual way to be
encouraged.”
—from a review on
Spiritualty & Practice, an online resource
“This is a wonderfully told story, universal in nature, surprising in
its approach, and touches on so many difficult issues in unusual and
engaging ways. It very much deserves the accolades it has received and
should find its way into as many little and big hands as possible.”
—from a review on
reachandteach.com, by Craig Wiesner
“The combination of traditional folktale format with surprising plot twists makes this a winning book with unforced relevance in our times
. . . . Durga Yael Bernhard’s lively, tradition-inspired illustrations would be easily taken in if the book were read aloud to a First-day school group of early elementary students.”
—from a review by Dee Cameron in
Friends Journal