Golem (Caldecott Medal Book) (Hardcover)

by David Wisniewski (Author) "Within the beautiful city of Prague, fierce hatreds have raged for a thousand years..." (more)
Key Phrases: Rabbi Loew

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Golem is the Hebrew word for shapeless man. According to Jewish legend, the renowned scholar and teacher Rabbi Loew used his powers to create a Golem from clay in order to protect his people from persecution in the ghettos of 16th-century Prague. (This was the time of the Blood Lie, when hostile gentiles claimed that Jews were mixing the blood of Christian children with the flour and water of matzo.) David Wisniewski's cut-paper collage illustrations--which earned him the Caldecott Medal in 1997--are the ideal medium for portraying the stark black-and-white forces of good and evil, pride and prejudice, as well as the gray area that emerges when the tormented clay giant loses control of his anger. Echoing the tension and mood of Frankenstein, Wisniewski sends the tragic giant back to the blood red earth that birthed him. The historical note on the last page offers a broader context for the legend, ultimately comparing the creation of Golem to the emergence of Israel. (Ages 8 and older) --Gail Hudson

From Publishers Weekly
Elaborately composed cut-paper spreads give a 3D, puppet-show-like quality to a retelling of a Jewish legend. Rabbi Loew has a prophetic vision in 1580 when the Jews of Prague are accused of mixing the blood of Christian children into matzoh: he must create a Golem, "a giant of living clay, animated by Cabala, mystical teachings of unknown power." Brought to life with apocalyptic explosions of steam and rain, the Golem seeks out the perpetrators of the Blood Lie and turns them over to the authorities. Thwarted, the enraged enemies of the Jews storm the gates of the ghetto, but the Golem grows to enormous height and violently defeats them with their own battering ram. Once his work is done, he pitifully (and futilely) begs the Rabbi: "Please let me live! I did all that you asked of me! Life is so... precious... to me!" Wisniewski (The Wave of the Sea Wolf) emphasizes the Golem's humanity and the problems with his existence; instead of reducing the legend to a tale of a magical rescuer, the author allows for its historical and emotional complexity. The fiery, crisply layered paper illustrations, portraying with equal drama and precision the ornamental architecture of Prague and the unearthly career of the Golem, match the specificity and splendor of the storytelling. An endnote about the history and influence of the legend is particularly comprehensive. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (October 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395726182
• ISBN-13: 978-0395726181
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #456,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wondrous Tale of Redemption and Sorrow, April 19, 2002

By	J. H. Minde "Can you keep up?" (Boca Raton, Florida and Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

GOLEM is a beautiful book. A children's retelling of the Jewish legend of Rabbi Judah Loew and the creature he created to save the Jews of Prague from destruction in 1580, the tale is simply and poignantly told, with lavish cut-paper illustrations in dynamic colors and shapes. This book is a Caldecott Medal Winner, and well-deservedly.

A word of caution, though---the illustrations can be dark and frightening for younger children, and the morality of the tale is complex and disturbing, even for adults.

For those who are not familiar with the legend, it concerns the "Blood Libel," that fantastical tale that the Jews had used Christian blood in the baking of Passover matzohs, and Rabbi Loew's attempts to stave off a resultant pogrom (riot) in Prague by creating a Frankenstein's monster which "does it's work almost too well." Upon saving the Jews, Rabbi Loew returns the Golem to the earth from which it came.

Sensitive and inquiring children (and adults) will be filled with questions, particularly as to why the Golem, who is both mindlessly, childishly destructive and sweetly childlike in his appreciation of flowers and sunsets, is rewarded by his creator with death after completing his appointed task.

These are saddening, unanswerable questions, but make GOLEM a true parable of human life. Children and parents may weep together over the injustices described here.

Definitely not for unsophisticated youngsters,or for adults faint of heart or spirit, this book should be shared and discussed at length and in depth.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read with Care: Golem is Wonderful but *Disturbing*, May 10, 2001

By	Ivy (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Golem is a gorgeously illustrated, well-written, and educational tale, with deep connections to Jewish tradition and faith. However, the story is also very sad and distressing, especially for those who are impressionable or sensitive. I suggest that parents review this book carefully, looking through their children's eyes, before sharing it even with teenagers; likewise, I suggest they be prepared for some nearly unanswerable questions.

The book retells the legend of Rabbi Leow and the Golem he created from clay to protect the Jews of Prague during a time of danger for them. Anti-semitic factions within the city were spreading rumors that Passover matzoh was made with the blood of Christian children; this rumor, called the Blood Lie, led to attacks and abuses of the defenseless Jews. Already, the story is a deeply distressing one, too upsetting for the average child. It gets worse, though - the Golem, who calls Rabbi Leow 'Father,' protects and saves the Jews, and then begs the Rabbi not to kill him. Leow does anyway. While the message here is one about the wise use of power, it was mostly lost on our family, since at that point everyone was crying too hard to think at all.

There's no doubt that the book is well presented. It's beautiful, with cut-paper illustrations that seem to spring off the page. However, even these gorgeous pictures cast a pall; they are grim in tone and appearance, at times giving a hellish cast to a story that needed no further embroidering in that department. The novel medium - photographs of cut paper - and the success with which it is used do merit the Caldecott Medal.

However, unlike most Caldecott books, this one is not for casual or entertainment reading, nor is it for children. I can't emphasize this enough. I would never read this book with children younger than 12, or ones unfamiliar with Jewish history; even as it is, I more than half regret sharing it, despite its beauty, depth, and educational value. It provoked some painful questions (in particular, about the cruelty of all people, including Rabbi Leow) and left us all depressed.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A famous tale of Eastern Europe., June 1, 1999

By	R. D. Allison ([e-mail]) (Gainesville, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book, written and illustrated by David Wisniewski (for some reason, amazon.com neglected to list him as the author), is the winner of the 1997 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a book for children. It is a retelling of a legend about Rabbi Loew in an Eastern European city in 1580 who brings to life a "golem" who protects the Jews at that time. It is a stark and important tale that demonstrates the problems the Jewish people have had through the ages. Thus, the book can lead to some important discussions. However, it is not a book for younger children. It is probably best for children of age eleven or older. According to the author, this legend was a possible source for Shelley's monster.