  | Golem Author: Wisniewski, David | |
| Price: $16.34 | ||
Summary:
A saintly rabbi miraculously brings to life a clay giant who helps his watch over the Jews of sixteenth-century Prague.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.30 Points: .5 Quiz: 52317 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 4.10 Points: 2.0 Quiz: 04625 | |
Awards:
Caldecott Medal, 1997
Common Core Standards
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → Caldecott Medal
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating Complexity, Quality, & Range
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 2 → Reading → CCR College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards fo
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 3 → Reading → RF Foundational Skills → 3.RF Fluency
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (09/15/96)
School Library Journal (10/96)
Booklist (+) (10/01/96)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (09/96)
The Hornbook (03/97)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/1996 Gr 3 Up--Wisniewski's retelling of the golem legend varies only slightly from the traditional version recounted by Beverly McDermott in The Golem (HarperCollins, 1975; o.p.). It is the tale of a clay giant formed in the image of man to protect the Jewish people of medieval Prague from destruction by their enemies. His master, the chief rabbi of Prague in the late 16th century, was a highly regarded Cabbalist (a mystic). In this telling, the golem speaks with the simplicity of a child (In many versions he is mute), and he is destroyed when the emperor guarantees the safety of the Jewish people. (Traditionally, the golem goes berserk and must be returned to the earth.) A lengthy note explains the idea of the Golem and details Jewish persecution throughout history. Wisniewski has used layers of cut paper to give depth to his illustrations, many of which have a three-dimensional appearance. A wispy layer, which begins as the vapor of creation, becomes smoke from torches carried by an angry mob of armed silhouette people and horses. The colors are browns and grays of the earth, sunrise mauve, and the pumpkin and burnt orange of fire and sunset. Skillful use of perspective enhances the Golem's immense size. While the plot is stronger than in Mark Podwal's retelling (Greenwillow, 1995), Wisniewski's text lacks the power and child appeal of McDermott's spare, well-crafted tale. Still, collections wanting another edition of the story might consider this one.--Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH - Copyright 1996 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 10/01/1996 *Starred Review* Wisniewski's large picture-book version is stark and terrifying. His extraordinary cut-paper collages show and tell the shape-shifting and changing perspectives that are the essence of the story. Chanting spells from the holy books of the Cabala, the rabbi creates the giant, whose task is to protect the Jews and catch those planting false evidence of the Blood Lie. When the mob storms the gates of the ghetto, the golem is a huge Frankenstein monster who smashes the people and their weapons. But Wisniewski adds an element of melancholy to the creature (just as Mary Shelley did). This golem can talk, and when his work is done, he begs to be allowed to go on living. The pictures of the desperate giant trying to prevent his hands and face from dissolving are scenes of horror and sorrow. Wisniewski ends with a long, detailed background note about the religious roots and folklore and about the history of Jewish persecution through the ages. (Reviewed Oct. 1, 1996) - Copyright 1996 Booklist.
