The Jester Has Lost His Jingle

My 3-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with leukemia. On one of our stays at the hospital, I found this book to read to her. She absolutely loved it! She asked that I read it again and again. It's a great story about finding laughter and happiness inside yourself, something that a child with cancer and his/her family really needs to be able to do. I'm quite sad to have read the 'official' review by Barbara something-or-other. I think she's way off base and missing the entire point of the book - it's not about the fine drawings or perfectly metered rhyming. It's about finding something deep inside you to get you through the darkest of days.

I bought this book several years ago and read it to my twin daughters who are now 8. They and I loved the book! I just pulled it down to read to my 4 year old daughter who did not remember the book. She absolutely loved the book and so did I again. It is a great children's book with colorful pictures and a great story! The illustrations are beautiful and colorful and who cares if he goes from a castle to a modern day city (children know that both can exist at the same time, even if the castle is only in the imagination!)Buy the book, you won't be sorry!!!

I'm 17 and my little sister who's 3 was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor and rare cancer almost 5 months ago. My Mom read this book to her in the waiting room at one of her hospital visits. A few weeks later while she was having Chemotherapy a lady came and gave each patient the Jester and Pharley Doll. Last week my Mom ordered the book, and I just got done reading it for the first time. I personally think it's a wonderful book, people take advantage of life and don't take the time to enjoy it. I definitely enjoy every day that I have my sister, she's gone through a lot and is doing well, but mostly doing well because nothing slows her down! She's a trooper and embraces every moment, 3 years old and knows so much. Every child should have this book! And as people have said, adults as well!

When I first read this book I realized what a gift it was. The story is told in rhyme and the pictures very appealing. In rereading it last night to two of my grandchildren (5 1/2 & 3 1/2) I realized how much they understood and enjoyed it. I also sensed that it is the perfect book for a friend of mine recently diagnosed with cancer. It may well provide her and her family with additional hope and pleasure. Life is precious and certainly one of the most precious aspects is laughter. Many thanks to the late David Saltzman and his parents for sharing this meaningful story with us.

"The Jester Has Lost His Jingle" is an excellent children's book that fits the cliche "for children of all ages." The book clearly works and works well on its terms, teaching children about the importance of laughter and personal strength in the face of adversity. I am at a loss to explain the few negative comments that I just read about the book on this website -- the only negative comments I've ever encountered in reference to this book. If their concern is that the message is too "surface" or "simplistic," perhaps they should take note of how the story works on a subtextual level as well. The Jester -- a childlike and wide-eyed innocent -- is banished from the only world he's ever known by the King and Queen. In other words, he's sent out from his home by his parents after inexplicably finding himself no longer to please them. He finds himself on a quest not just to find laughter, but to find his self-worth and value. A parable that any child will relate to on a subconscious level. Ultimately, he finds the resiliency and strength within himself and in the world. Laughter (or anything else of value and meaning one is searching for), he discovers, is found sometime in the hardest places to look. Only then does the Jester return home to the great satisfaction of his parental figures. This marvelous story works on many levels. This is just one. As for the person who doesn't understand "the talking wood stick." It's a jester's scepter. And a perfect representation of the Jester's alter ego and inner voice. Show some imagination and intelligence.