Golem (book)

Golem  
Author(s) David Wisniewski
Illustrator David Wisniewski
Country United States
Genre(s) Children's picture book
Publisher Clarion Books
Publication date 1996
ISBN 978-0395726181
OCLC Number 247228570
Dewey Decimal 398.21/089924 E 20
LC Classification BM531 .W57 1996

Golem is a 1996 picture book written and illustrated by David Wisniewski. With illustrations made of cut-paper collages, it is Wisniewski's retelling of the Jewish folktale of the Golem, with real people, real places, and a lengthy one-page background at the end.

The story is set in year 1580 in Prague, and the Jews are being persecuted. Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the town rabbi, can think of nothing more than creating a being out of mud and bringing it to life, using the holy name of God, to protect them. Once the Golem stops the persecution, Rabbi Loew erases the letters on the Golem's head, making the Golem "sleep the dreamless sleep of clay". The ending is ambiguous, ending with the 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 retelling is one of the few retellings in which the Golem has a nameā€”it is Joseph.

Awards
Preceded by
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Caldecott Medal recipient
1997
Succeeded by
Rapunzel