To save the Jews in 1580 Prague, Rabbi Loew brings to life The Golem; a giant man of living clay. This creature protects the Jews from persecution due to a lie - that they have mixed the blood of Christian children with their matzoh. The Golem catches those responsible, then grows ever larger when the frustrated enemies of the Jews storm their ghetto. Elaborate cut-paper illustrations bring the legend to life.

Similar books: Elfwyn's Saga, The Wave of the Sea-Wolf, Sundiata Lion King of Mali, all by David Wisniewski. The Sabbath Lion, by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush; The Barefoot Book of Monsters, by Fran Parnell and Sophie Fatus.

Awards won: Caldecott Medal

Reviewed by: djd

Date read: 7/7/2009

ISBN-10: 0395726182

ISBN-13: 9780395726181

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Hugo Cabret is the son of a clockmaker. He was being raised by his father until his father died in a fire. Hugo's uncle Claude then took Hugo to live with him in an apartment located in a train station. Uncle Claude's job at the train station is to maintain all of the clocks in the station. Hugo becomes Uncle Claude's apprentice but when Uncle Claude doesn't come home for several days (or ever again), Hugo continues to take care of all the clocks by himself. Hugo becomes intrigued with a toy shop in the train station and keeps a stash of toy parts that he pilfers from the shop. From these parts, he is able to rebuild the broken automaton machine that he found in the wreckage of a museum fire. He is convinced that the automaton holds a message for him from his father. The inventor of the automaton surprisingly ends up being someone that Hugo knows. The one hundred and fifty eight illustrations in this book are spectacular and tell the story with as much power as the words do. So what is the invention of Hugo Cabret? You will be amazed when you find out!

Awards won: Caldecott Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0439813786

ISBN-13: 9780439813785

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Winner of the 2010 Caldecott Medal, this is a nearly wordless adaptation of Aesop's beloved fable. Varied perspectives including panels of close-ups make this a book you want to stop on every page to examine the detail. Words are not needed to show how important friends are- big and small.

Awards won: Caldecott Medal

Reviewed by: mec

Date read: 8/31/2010

ISBN-13: 9780316013567

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The young reader can read all about the amazing feat of a French aerialist, named Philippe Petit. In 1974, this death-defying daredevil danced, walked, and performed for over an hour on a thin cable stretched between the World Trade Center Towers. 'The Man Who Walked Between the Towers' by Mordicai Gerstein gives testament to the grandness and majesty of the World Trade Center and the courage of the man who danced between them.

Similar authors: Emily Arnold McCully; Mary Calhoun; Julie Cummins

Similar books: Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg; Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper by Julie Cummins; Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills by Julie Cummins; The Girl On the High-Diving Horse by Linda Oatman High; Mirette and Bellini Cross Niagara Falls by Emily Arnold McCully; High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun

Awards won: Caldecott Medal

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/29/2011

ISBN-10: 0761317910

ISBN-13: 9780761317913

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Winner of the 2003 Caldecott Medal, My Friend Rabbit tells the story of Mouse's friendship with Rabbit. 'My friend Rabbit means well. But whatever he does, wherever he goes, trouble follows.' What ensues is one such instance of trouble, where Rabbit loses Mouse's toy plane in a tree. When Rabbit calls out, 'Not to worry, Mouse. I've got an idea,' we know that the proper response is to worry. Rabbit's idea involves piling all the wild animals on top of one another to retrieve the plane. You can guess what happens next! Most of the meaning of the story is apparent in the illustrations, and a few well-chosen words make clear that Rabbit is the classic troublesome, yet likable, character many of us have encountered.

Awards won: Caldecott Medal

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 2/26/2010

ISBN-10: 031236752X

ISBN-13: 9780312367527

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