The Golden City: Jerusalem's 3,000 Years [Hardcover]

Neil Waldman (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Celebrating the three thousandth anniversary of the fabled city, the author of Nessa's Fish follows Jerusalem's rich, sometimes turbulent history from its founding by King David to its present place in the Jewish state of Israel.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4?This succinct illustrated history of Jerusalem from King David's time to the present day successfully introduces the panorama of religions and cultures that have formed the city's heritage and created its mystique. Waldman also conveys the senselessness of centuries of political strife that has formed layer upon layer of abandoned architecture, leaving in its wake destruction and hatred between Israel and some of its neighbors. Although it is brief, the text carefully explains why Jerusalem is so important to Jews, Christians, and Moslems by detailing its occupation over the centuries, with just enough information to satisfy youngsters with little or no historical background. The narrative is further elucidated by full-page colored-pencil drawings on watercolor backgrounds that show views of the city at various times in its history. The Golden City provides clearer, more detailed information than Karla Kuskin's Jerusalem, Shining Still (HarperCollins, 1987), which uses simple language but seems to be written more for its poetic style than for informational purposes.?Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. It doesn't seem possible to condense 3,000 years of history into 32 pages, but Waldman does a creditable job and provides some beautiful artwork as well. Beginning with Moses, Waldman moves quickly to David's designation of Jerusalem as his capital. David's son, Solomon, made Jerusalem a showplace, but eventually the Babylonians overran the city and the first Jewish Diaspora occurred. Later, the Jews returned and rebuilt the city, which has remained their home. In the centuries that followed, Jerusalem was a holy city for Muslims as well as Christians. Rather surprisingly, Waldman gives only several sentences to the recent strife in the city, and one has the feeling that he's steering clear of controversy throughout. Still, this does give children an idea of the importance of this religious capital, and they will be taken with the evocative watercolor-and-colored-pencil artwork that captures both the physicality of an ancient city alive in its stones and the dreaminess of a place filled with centuries of longing. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563979187
• ISBN-13: 978-1563979187
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,929,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice book but not essential, October 15, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Golden City: Jerusalem's 3,000 Years (Hardcover)

When I write reviews of children's books, I write with my audience of elementary and middle school students in mind. As a Catholic school librarian with limited funds, I consider the practicality of the library's purchases. My main question then for all books I purchase is: How useful is this book? Utility can even include beauty. That said, here are some basic observations:

*Writer/illustrator Neil Waldman creates what I would call a souvenir book, highlighting the history of Israel beginning with David slaying Goliath. His lovely, almost dreamy illustrations that match each major change of history have a glowing memory effect about them.

*His narrative reads like an essay, unbroken by subtopic headings, making this a smooth historical travelogue but not a useful research source.

*The best thing is the chronology concluding the long essay and located in the back of the book. It is divided by black left-margin dots.

So all things considered, "The Golden City: Jerusalem's 3,000 Years" is a nice book to add to your collection, but not essential. Truthfully, I obtained the book through our book fair at a significant discount.

It is a lovely book!