From: WMMayes at aol.com <WMMayes>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 22:13:40 -0500 (EST)

Walter the Giant here, checking in with my comments on the Caldecott winner.
 I have used several different versions of the Golem story (Mark Podwal's recent picture book and Issac Bashevis Singers' retelling from several years back are the ones I use most frequently) in my presentations for schools.
 The story is usually new to children except in Hebrew schools, and is received with delight by audiences grades 3 and up.

I am very fond of Barbara Rogasky's retelling as well--the one with the Trina Schart Hyman illustrations. All the versions have a level of what I call
'appropriate violence' in them and, as in certain Greek Myths and Bible stories, that is a selling point when telling stories to todays children who think that R L Stine invented terror.

But David Wisniewski's much deserving award-winner is a real boon to me as a storyteller, as it is constructed in such a way that it can be used either on its own or in conjunction with other versions. AND, the art is brilliant and heartbreaking! I have been a fan of his work for a long time. He takes paper cut art into another league. I am very happy with this surprising decision by the Caldecott committee!

Walter the Giant Storyteller WMMayes at aol.com

"Love, Food, Shelter, Clothing...Books!"
Received on Tue 25 Feb 1997 09:13:40 PM CST