Rating: 
Summary: Children's Book for All Ages
Review: "Golem" is a dark, haunting story that contains special personal relevance for Jews. My college professor assigned this "children's book" in my Search for Faith religion class. The interpretation he gave made the story even more powerful. Even without the assistance of a class, this story is bound to touch some in deep and amazing ways.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wondrous Tale of Redemption and Sorrow
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Read with Care: Golem is Wonderful but *Disturbing*
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Read with Care: Golem is Wonderful but *Disturbing*
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I am a student at West Virginia State College. I am working on a bachelors degree in Elementary Education. I read this book for a Children's Literature class because it was a Caldecott winner. My professor is Mr. Roger Samples and he is an excellent teacher and has taught us to love literature.
With saying that, I loved this book. The cut-paper illustrations are beautiful. It could be used to open a lesson about the culture and history of the Jewish people. It will be an excellent tool for me to use when I become a teacher.
Angel R. Gurski
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I am a student at West Virginia State College. I am working on a bachelors degree in Elementary Education. I read this book for a Children's Literature class because it was a Caldecott winner. My professor is Mr. Roger Samples and he is an excellent teacher and has taught us to love literature.
With saying that, I loved this book. The cut-paper illustrations are beautiful. It could be used to open a lesson about the culture and history of the Jewish people. It will be an excellent tool for me to use when I become a teacher.
Angel R. Gurski
Rating: 
Summary: Not for Children!
Review: Not for Children! A golem is an artificial person created by Jewish mystical methods. The origin of the term apparently begins with the hapax legomenen (a term which appears only once in the Bible) 'golmi' which is variously translated "unformed substance," "embryo," and "life stages." In this case, 'golmi' appears at Psalms 139, verse 16. Various legends surrounding the golem are cataloged by Gershon Scholem in the Encyclopedia Judaica, and Leo Rosten, in the classic "Joys of Yiddish" suggests it is the inspiration of Frankenstein's monster. In this this book, which is faithful to a point to the Jewish legend, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, chief rabbi of Prague in 1580, creates a golem to protect the Jews from the violence of angry mobs incited by the infamous `blood libel' current during the holiday of Passover. This book is a Trojan horse. This Caldecott medal winner will lure you and your child in with its spectacular cut paper illustrations, but the themes and imagery are most certainly not suitable for children. Most particularly, the following quotation is taken from an early page of the book in which the rabbi charges his golem with his mission: "You will guard the ghetto at night and catch those planting false evidence of the Blood lie. They are godless men, carrying bottles of blood or the body of a misssing child." This is enough to give nightmares to the 9 year olds within the age range suggested by publisher. I would adjust this age range to include only 12 year olds and up. At the end, the book provides an excellent note, which only serves to reinforce the reviewer's opinion that this volume is `for adults only.' ....
Rating:
Summary: Not for Children!
Review: Not for Children! A golem is an artificial person created by Jewish mystical methods. The origin of the term apparently begins with the hapax legomenen (a term which appears only once in the Bible) 'golmi' which is variously translated "unformed substance," "embryo," and "life stages." In this case, 'golmi' appears at Psalms 139, verse 16. Various legends surrounding the golem are cataloged by Gershon Scholem in the Encyclopedia Judaica, and Leo Rosten, in the classic "Joys of Yiddish" suggests it is the inspiration of Frankenstein's monster. In this this book, which is faithful to a point to the Jewish legend, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, chief rabbi of Prague in 1580, creates a golem to protect the Jews from the violence of angry mobs incited by the infamous 'blood libel' current during the holiday of Passover. This book is a Trojan horse. This Caldecott medal winner will lure you and your child in with its spectacular cut paper illustrations, but the themes and imagery are most certainly not suitable for children. Most particularly, the following quotation is taken from an early page of the book in which the rabbi charges his golem with his mission: "You will guard the ghetto at night and catch those planting false evidence of the Blood lie. They are godless men, carrying bottles of blood or the body of a misssing child." This is enough to give nightmares to the 9 year olds within the age range suggested by publisher. I would adjust this age range to include only 12 year olds and up. At the end, the book provides an excellent note, which only serves to reinforce the reviewer's opinion that this volume is 'for adults only.' ....
Rating:
Summary: A clay man in Prague
Review: People learn about the myth of the Golem in a variety of different ways. Sometimes they learn about it through literature (I credit, "The Adventures of Cavalier and Clay"), through song and story, or through children's books. David Wisniewski was not the first author/illustrator to create a picture book out of the myth of the man of clay. He was only the best.
In this tale, four hundred years ago the Jews of Prague were sorely oppressed. They had been oppressed in the past, it's true, but new evil rumors were being passed on about them. People were telling the "Blood Lie", which claimed that Jews were guilty of mixing the blood of Christian children with the flour and water of matzoh. Amongst these Jews lived the chief rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel. One night, in a dream, Loew was commanded by God to create a Golem. Obeying the command, Loew built a man out of clay and gave it life. The Golem, unofficially named Joseph, was sent to discover the men spreading the Blood Lie about the Jews and bring them to justice. When the Golem was successful at this endeavor an angry mob of enemies of the Jews set upon the ghetto to wreak massive destruction. Instead, the Golem protected the Jews and the emperor of Prague vowed never to let such a thing happen again. With that, the Golem's life was taken (much to his chagrin) only to be called back again if the Jews ever found themselves in trouble once more.
David Wisniewski provides and lengthy and incredibly in depth note at the end of this tale outlining the history of the legend as well as the history of the Jews themselves. You cannot help but be impressed by the depth and intensity of Wisniewski's research. As a writer he deftly tells the Golem's tale, even mentioning how the creature grew to love life. It is a truly sad moment indeed when Rabbi Loew chooses to dissolve his creature once the Jews are finally safe. The Golem's pleas for life go unheeded, and the Rabbi even goes so far as to inform his poor servant that when he is dead he will not remember anything of life since he is merely clay. It's a harsh moment for a picture book, but I greatly appreciate Wisniewski's decision to tell the story without Disneyesque changes. But a tale can only go so far on its own. As the 1997 Caldecott award winner, "Golem" had to be as visually interesting as it was well told. The fact of the matter is that the artistic quality of this story is breathtaking. The cut paper illustrations used in this story are beyond anything I've seen in a long time. From the tiniest cracks found in the earth to the crackles of lightning that fills the Golem's coarse clay and bring him to life, Wisniewski is a detailed and magnificent artist. I can say with little doubt that this book is perhaps the most beautiful cut paper tale ever produced for children.
I don't know enough about the original Golem tale to tell you whether or not Wisniewski is accurate in his interpretation. All I can say is that this book deserves to be read. We do not usually find such thoughtful beauty in our picture books. When we do we should catch ahold of them and love them dearly. Be sure to catch yourself a copy of "Golem". You will be impressed.
Rating:
Summary: THIS is a kids' book...?!?
Review: Something tells me Wisniewski wrote and illustrated this book out of sheer love of the classic Jewish folktale of the Golem, a man made of mud. Certainly, it's not written in a typical "kiddie book" style, and in Wisniewski's version (unlike some other retellings), the plot is eerily complicated by the fact that Golem doesn't want to die. A cross between Superman and Frankenstein, Golem is invoked for a single purpose, and when his purpose is fulfilled, he's put to sleep (literally; he never dies in this version, but is buried in holy books in an attic). It's this aspect that I think kids might find the most disturbing. The line between "bedtime" and "death" is so narrow in childrens' perception that this book's ending may frighten them more than the somewhat low-key mayhem Golem causes in his lifetime. Despite the unusually blasé retelling, this story comes to life through Wisniewski's gloriously intricate papercut illustrations -- also seen in "The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups" -- which will thrill any child in their hellish spookiness. Although my kids seemed a little perplexed by the above-their-heads text, in the end the pictures kept them riveted, thrilling to this well-known epic from the dark days of our history.
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