Golem

If I asked you, “Who is Golem?”, you’d probably answer, “That horrible creature from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings who coveted the One Ring.”

You’d be right, even though Tolkein spells the name differently. But Golem is a mythical character from Jewish folklore – long pre-dating Tolkein’s work. In fact, knowing the story of the original Golem can lend some understanding on Tolkein’s Gollum.

The picture book by David Wisniewski, Golem, tells the story of the original Golem of Jewish legend. A famous rabbi created Golem as a way to protect his people from the severe persecution they faced in the 1500’s in Prague.

Not only is the story interesting, Wisniewski’s paper-cut illustrations are amazing. Adults can enjoy this book with children, as can any fan of The Lord of the Rings, and even The Clockwork Three fans, since author Matthew Kirby references a golem in that book.

Recommended for ages 4 and up.