Golem (David Wisniewski book) facts for kids
 |
|
| Author | David Wisniewski |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | David Wisniewski |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Clarion Books |
|
Publication date
|
1996 |
| ISBN | 978-0-395-72618-1 |
| OCLC | 247228570 |
| 398.21/089924 E 20 | |
| LC Class | BM531 .W57 1996 |
The book Golem is a special picture book from 1996. It was written and illustrated by David Wisniewski. This book tells an old Jewish story about a powerful creature called the Golem. David Wisniewski made the pictures using a cool technique called cut-paper collages. At the end of the book, there's a short page explaining the background of the Golem legend.
Discovering the Golem Book
Golem is a famous children's book. It is known for its unique art style. The story is a retelling of a classic folktale. It teaches about courage and justice.
The Story of the Golem
The story of Golem happens in the year 1580. This was in the city of Prague. At that time, Jewish people in Prague were facing many dangers. They were being treated unfairly.
The town's wise leader was Judah Loew ben Bezalel, a respected rabbi. He worried deeply about his community. He thought about how to protect them. Rabbi Loew decided to create a special being. This being would be made from mud. He would bring it to life using a holy name of God. This powerful creature was the Golem. Its job was to keep the people safe.
The Golem successfully stopped the dangers. Once the community was safe, Rabbi Loew needed to make the Golem rest. He erased some letters from the Golem's head. This made the Golem go into a deep sleep. The book says it was "sleep the dreamless sleep of clay".
The ending of the book is a bit mysterious. It finishes with these words: "But many say he could awaken. Perhaps when the desperate need for justice is united with holy purpose, Golem will come to life once more." This means the Golem might return if people truly need help again.
Awards and Recognition
Golem is a very well-known book. It won a major award in children's literature. In 1997, the book received the Caldecott Medal. This award is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Winning the Caldecott Medal shows how special David Wisniewski's illustrations are.
