Regular marked price: $17.00Discount Price: $11.56
Cost Savings: $5.44 (32%)Price fluctuation possible.
How soon does it ship: Normal ship time within one day
Shipping? Absolutely FREE if you qualify for Super Saver Shipping.
Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 398.21089924
EAN num: 9780395726181
ISBN number: 0395726182
Label: Clarion Books
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 32
Printing Date: October 18, 1996
Publishing house: Clarion Books
Age index: Ages 4-8
Sale Popularity Level: 100417
Studio: Clarion Books
Other books you might be interested in perusing:
Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Retold from traditional sources and accompanied by David Wisniewski's unique cut-paper illustrations, Golem is a dramatic tale of supernatural forces invoked to save an oppressed people. It also offers a thought-provoking look at the consequences of unleashing power beyond human control. The afterword discusses the legend of the golem and its roots in the history of the Jews. A Caldecott Medal Book.
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 blue 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
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
-
It is a truly sad thing that we don't have more "kiddie" books like this anymore, something that can really be called a work of art with a story that has a history to it. Call me a sucker for all the old folklore, but hey, they have been around along enough that the history has to say something for their deep coolness.
Beyond telling a basic, fluffy story, this book takes on the load of culture and religion to tell an incredible tale of, well, a golem (not the freak of Tolkien, the actual legendary monster made of an inanimate material). Rather along the line of the "Frankenstein phobia" the story is rather scary--but pleasantly so. Yeah, it's a contradition, but this is a good scary story that still teaches a lesson, albeit a archaic lesson. But hey, so much the better.
The art is also incredibly cool and you will quickly see why it won its award.
Rated by buyers 
-
The author has sanitized and de-Judaized the legend. For example, he has changed the original inscription on the golem's forehead, a mystical Name of God that actually infuses life into the image, to "emet," which means truth. A nice enough word, but hardly sufficient to breathe life into clay. The result is an OK children's story, but without the richness and meaning of the legend. Read I.B. Singer's version instead.
Rated by buyers -
The tale of the Golem of Prague was told me by my Bohemian grandmother when I was a little boy, so I was pleased to find Wisniewski's book. The cut-paper art is magnificent, giving an almost 3-D perspective to it. However, the story itself is a bit intense for those under 5.
The golem, for those not familar with the story, was a man made of clay to protect the Jews of Prague from anti-Semites. Eventually it grew out of control, and had to be destroyed. It therefore deals with some pretty adult themes: intolerance, violence, death.
The deeper meanings of the story: that it is far better to be tolerant of others, that violence is not a good way to resolve disputes, and that we (like the Golem) will one day return to dust will probably be over the heads of the very young; the book does provide an opportunity to discuss these themes with older children, however.
It is a beautiful book, and the story is a good one - give its themes consideration before purchasing.
Rated by buyers 
-
This is one of my favorite books. Exquisite. Although intended as a "children's" book--the stunning artwork is geared toward youth--the deceptively simple story is probably better appreciated by adults. This is the inspiration behind all the Frankenstein, android, robot, purpose of life tales. What does it mean to be "alive?" How do we reconcile a belief in god with mortality? Because of this the story can be disturbing, for the moral seems to be that we are but instruments whose life may be ended by the creator when our purpose is finished. The golem, purpose be damned, stops to watch a sunrise.
In a sense then, the golem story embodies one of the most troubling questions of humanity: why would the beauty of life, once gifted to us, be taken away? As the golem pleads to Rabbi Loew, "life is so precious to me."
The book is not long, but the pages are large and quality prints, allowing one to appreciate the detail of Wisniewski's cut-outs. The Caldecott was well deserved. There is also a short historical overview at the end the explains the context in which the legends emerged as well providing some recommended reading and drawing an interesting connection between the modern state of Israel and the golem.
Rated by buyers -
Golem is a unique retelling of an old myth in Prague. In the year 1580 many people in Prague believed that the Jews were doing terrible things...like drinking the blood of missing children. Locked away and left defenseless, one great Jewish leader named Rabbi Loew used his vast knowledge of the Cabala to create a giant. This giant, named Golem, was created for one purpose only...to protect the Jews from harm. Once the Jews are no longer threatened Golem will become the lump of clay he was to begin with.
Golem proves himself to be a very able defender...but there is one big problem. Golem is growing even bigger and becoming harder to control. The emperor of Prague finally promises safety to the Jews, but only if Golem is destroyed. Golem, however, doesn't want to die. He enjoys flowers and sunrises and passionately begs his "father" not to destroy him. The pictures in this book are very powerful and profound. The dramatic illustrations that this book displays add to the intensity of the story.
Find other books like this one:
