Foolish Shadusa thinks he's the strongest man in the world and orders his wife to call him "master man". But his wise wife warns him: "Quit your foolish boasting. No matter how strong your are, there will always be someone stronger. And watch out, or someday you may meet him." But Shadusa doesn't listen and when he hears that another man in a nearby village also calls himself "master man", he sets off to confront this imposter and ends up learning his lesson the hard way..... Aaron Shepard and award winning illustrator, David Wisniewski have authored an inspired and creative version of this old Nigerian folktale. The story, told in comic book format, complete with dialogue bubbles, is full of expressive, action packed scenes and colorful, detailed collage artwork that becomes busier and bolder until it almost spills off the pages. The book includes an author's note at the end and youngsters will enjoy learning about the origins and history of this folktale. Perfect for children 4-8, Master Man is a terrific read-aloud story the whole family can share and will make a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

This book was really funny! The illustrations were really creative. The words are put right on the illustrations like a comic book so you feel really involved. I like tall tales, and this one is exceptional. The characters are very entertaining and they reminded me of people I know. Everyone should read Master Man -- even grownups!

The Rain Player By Caldecott Award Winner, David Wisniewski is one more example of his fantastic story telling ability across many cultures. This book makes an excellent Read Aloud for use in ancient mesoamerican (particularly Mayan) studies. The author did research the culture before writing.

Anyone who wants to introduce a child (or even someone who is not so young) to the REAL glories of ancient Africa could do a lot worse than start with this book.

Beautifully illustrated, and simply written it retells the life of the great culture hero Sunjata (variously spelled Sundiata, Son-Jara or other ways depending on the language and inclination of the translator).

According to the story, Sunjata defeated the sorcerer-king Suma'oro Kante and liberated the Manding people (of modern day Guinea, Mali, plus parts of Senegal, Gambia, Cote D'Ivoire and Burkina Faso) wielding them together into a great empire in the mid 13th century. To modern Manding poeple, Sunjata is roughly equivalent in stature to Abraham Lincoln, Moses or the first Qin Emperor.

This version is very close to the original tale as told by the griots of west Africa (check out D.T. Niane's "Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali" for a traditional telling of the story or, for the really adventurous, D.W. Johnson and Fa-Digi Cissoko's scholarly rendition "Son-Jara: An African Epic"). A sung version of part of the Sunjata fassa (epic praise poem) can be found on the CD "An Be Kelen (We are One): Griot Music from Mali" also available on Amazon.

Sunjata's story includes sorcery, prodigious battles, and the triumph of nobility over gossip and envy. For modern readers, an especially powerful feature is the famous story of Sunjata overcoming childhood disability (he is crippled and -in some versions, unable to talk) to become the leader of the Malian people.

One final critical point: While Wisniewski's version is fairly faithful to the original, it should be pointed out that key secondary figures (such as Sunjata's mother Sogolon Keju, his sister Nana Triban, Fran Camara (the king of the Blacksmith clan), and above all, Sunjata's griot Bala Fasseke Kouyate) are given little mention. Thus it replicates a western emphasis on key individuals rather than stressing the importance of each of the various segments of Manding society (men, women, siblings, parents, warriors, traders, sorcerers, griots, blacksmiths, farmers)which was an essential point in the original story.

This is a beautiful, skillfully-rendered book on an exciting topic. Sunjata belongs with the Viking Sagas and the Knights of the Round Table as a key example of world literature. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.

I ordered this thinking I would be receiving a hardback book as the description suggests. Imagine my surprise when I received a 22 minute VHS tape.

After my initial shock, I snuggled down to spend 22 minutes with David Wisniewski who talks to you as if you've just come for a visit to his home and studio. He casually introduces you to his family and relates a bit of his journey on becoming a Caldecott Medal winning illustrator of children's books.

Then he gets into the production aspect of making children's books, the writing, the rejections, selling a manuscript, editing it, more editing, initial sketches, yet more revisions, color studies, and finally creating the actual artwork.

This would be a great video to use in the classroom if you're working on a book project. He talks plainly and clearly, as if his audience were children, and walks them through the complete process. He is clear that it's a lot of work, but that it can be very rewarding. I personally wish he had spent a little more time on the artwork but time constraints probably wouldn't allow it.

With David's recent passing (Sept. 11, 2002)it makes this video all that more poignant. I have heard him speak in person and he is very much the circus clown; very funny and knows how to put on a good show. If you are an aspiring author/illustrator there isn't any secret knowledge in this video, just a nice man telling his story.

AFTER SEEING DAVID WISNIEWSKI GIVE A PRESENTATION ON BOOK TV/C-SPAN 2, I JUST HAD TO HAVE THIS BOOK. HIS PRESENTATION INCLUDED A BRIEF EXAMPLE OF HIS SHADOW PUPPETRY SKILLS. TRUELY AWESOME. EVEN IF I NEVER TRY TO DO IT, I HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION I NEED TO PUT ON A QUALITY SHADOW PUPPET SHOW. WHILE THIS BOOK IS GEARED TOWARD INCORPORATING IT INTO A SCHOOL CURRICULUM, THE KNOWLEDGE IS HERE TO USE IT IN ANY SETTING. A WONDERFUL REFERENCE BOOK TO HAVE ON HAND.

This book was a great book if you want some excitement and laughter. Of course it isn't true, although I had to question myself about that at first. The rules David Wisniewski (author) talks about in this book are rules you've probably heard your parents say a million times. Now, (if you read the book), you'll know the reasons why parents say these rules. The reasons David Wisniewski makes up are funny and seem so real. They'll make you laugh. The exciting part is that these reasons are parts of secret files that haven't ever been shown to kids before. Also, the illustrations are lively and colorful. They are interesting and the fun to look at. You won't be able to put this book down, and you'll never get tired of reading it. Every time I read it, it makes me laugh. (The author, David Wisniewski, is a Caldecott Medal winner.)

Have you ever wondered why your parents are always telling you to eat your vegetables or comb your hair? Is there really a sensible reason why you shouldn't blow bubbles in your milk, jump on your bed or bite your fingernails? David Wisniewski has gone undercover and after years of investigating has discovered the terrible truths to these and other age-old directives kids have blown off as just "parents being parents". Now the terrifying explanations are all here for the entire world to see and life as we know it, will never be the same..... With the clever look of a confidential, classified, top secret folder, Mr Wisniewski has written a zany, entertaining, over the top dossier that will have youngsters laughing out loud and rolling in the aisles. The hilarious, text, told in hip, kid-speak language is full of jokes and puns and complemented by bright, bold, wacky artwork. Kids will really love poring over these amazing, detailed illustrations. Perfect for youngsters 8-12, The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups is just pure fun and a book you don't want to miss.

But the REAL reason is to keep hillarious books like this from literally JUMPING OFF THE SHELVES. Yes, it's true. Researchers have discovered from the secret files of adults that unless books constantly have the ink read off of them by studious kids, ink build-up on pages leads to inkblot concentrations that cause special smudge protons (SPs) to destabilize (and Rorshack test-givers to completely whack out,) thus making books highly projectile. A copy of Roberts Rules of Order, having been unread for about 60 years, once flew off the shelves of a library in Shelbyville, Indiana, travelled thousands of miles, leaving a plume of library dust over 5 western states and landed in the swimming pool of a Hollywood film producer, leaving the movie maker so shocked he had to discontinue production of a screen adaptation of Huckleberry Finn starring cute computer generated alien creatures and a giant green bean.

So kids, if you don't want your overhyped PG movies delayed or you don't want to wear helmets in study hall...READ THIS AND MANY OTHER BOOKS!

This book is hard to rate. If it were for adults, as a novelty, it would clearly be five stars. For teenagers who have discovered "hard-boiled" detective fiction, this book would also be five stars. I have to believe that most of the story and humor would blow past the 4-8 year old set, that is the book's ostensible audience.

The illustrations, on the other hand, fit the age grouping nicely. They are done by cutting vividly-colored paper, creating constructions with the cut-outs, and then photographing the results.

The whole story takes place in a cookie jar, from the perspective of the cookies who have been around for awhile (don't think of them as stale, think of them as experienced). As is usual, putting a new viewpoint in place creates the potential for interesting new ideas. How do you stop depredations against the other cookies?

I wish that the classic noir novels from the thirties had the humor of this book. "I kiss her. 'You're a smart cookie,' I say. 'Maybe being a tough cookie isn't enough.'"

Now, if you have a child with great imagination, and you explain humor well, it may work for a younger child. But be prepared for the difficulty of explaining a satire of something you child has not yet seen or read.

You should also think about ways that low lifes (crumbs) can make all of the difference in real life.

Look at life from a new angle to see its potential!

Yeah, it's terse. Tough. Even cynical at times. But funny as all get out. It's probably no big trick to pull off a noirish children's book with a protagonist based on Bogart roles, but Wisniewski has just the right touch. It's clever/sassy for grownups ("A slap stings my cheek like a velvet bee." ) but colorful and funny for children.

Our hero, "Tough Cookie," aided by the smart and svelte Pecan Sandy, live in a cookie jar with assorted, uhhh, cookies (and crumbs). Tough Cookie and friends go after "Fingers," a ravenous foe who puts Cookie's former partner "Chips" in the cookie hospital: Like Sam Spade, Cookie goes after him (or her) "It's a long ride to the Top of the Jar. I begin to think maybe I'm a nutbar to do this. Then I think of Chips..." 29 pages of fun, it's an inventive twist on a proven formula.

Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski is a departure from his retelling of folktales from various cultures, which the illustrator has done in at least four of his previous books. His book, Golem, won for him a Caldecott award, which is a showcase for his cutwork art talent, however, this book shows his sense of humor and creativity. When reading this book the reader learns that Wisniewski is not only an award winning artist, but he also has a sense of humor too. What a wonderful combination! This book is a crime thriller in which Tough Cookie, a detective, and his girlfriend, Pecan Sandy, must solve the mystery of what is happening to the missing crumbs.It shows how rough life can be at the bottom of a cookie jar, especially when Fingers shows up. It's a must read for all ages, featuring Wisniewski's characteristic cutwork illustrations.

I wrote a longer review for the Narewka mailing list I run, if you want to joing send a blank message to narewka-subscribe@j-geek.org.

Finally this Shabbat we received the long awaited Bialystock book (Jewish Bialystok and Surroundings in Eastern Poland, by Tomasz Wisniewksi), I spent one afternoon on Succot reading it.

The book was small only 147 pages and I was able to read half of it in one afternoon. It is well written and provides a good insight into how people must have lived in the region. It also inspired my father and I to want to visit the area, perhaps in the next year.

The 'chapter' on Narewka was brief, about three pages.

This book is both a travel guide and an informative short history of the Jewish experience in and around Bialystok, Poland (near Belarus). I recently journeyed to Bialystok with it as my guidebook. If you are thinking about going on a similar journey, this book is absolutely essential as both a guide (be sure to go on the walking tour of Bialystok) and as background reading. Even if you are not planning a trip, I still recommend this book for its rich collection of old photographs and lucid historical discussions.

Since the Nazis so effectively erased most signs of the Jews in Poland (and the communists erased some of what remained), this book is like a treasure map. Wisniewski identifies every memorial plaque, grave, and building that was once connected to the Jewish community in Bialystok and about 30 smaller communities. Each description is accompanied by a short discussion of the relevant history. Unlike guides that only describe what is visible, in 'Jewish Bialystok,' when there is nothing left (or next to nothing), Wisniewski informs the reader what happened before, during and after WWII. My sole criticism is that the directions are often vague and the maps inadequate. These shortcomings were more than made up by the wealth of information Wisniewski provides about each town and village. The book also includes sources for additional historical and geneological information.

I can trace my roots back to the area but was unfamiliar with much of the local history, so I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it to others interested in Jewish life before the Holocaust.

My son first saw this book at our local library. In the case of children's picture books, he definitely judges a book by its cover! The bright yellow and purple caught his eye and the mouse in a sumo stance with an ear-to-ear grin was instantly appealing!

We read this book every night for the 2 weeks we had it, and loved it so much that I purchased a copy for my son later. It's still a favorite, and it's not just nice to look at, but it has a sweet message to accompany the comic-like feel.

I love reading this book and making up a tune for the theme song on the endpages just as much as my sons enjoy hearing it. I recommend this as a fun book for any home library collection!

"If Mount Fuji Blows its stack,/If a monster should attack,/Don't just hide inside your house!/Give a call for Sumo Mouse!" There's trouble in Tokyo. Tanaka Toys, maker of squeaky toys, is kidnapping mice. "We can't make squeaky toys without squeaky mice." Who's going to save these innocent victims from the dastardly toy company and its cruel owner Tiger Tanaka? It's Sumo Mouse! He vaults into action, crushes the villains with his superior technique, and then vanishes into the night. But Tanaka Toy's evil Doctor Claw has a plan to thwart this champion of squeaky mice. Will this be the end of Sumo Mouse? Award winning author and illustrator, David Wisniewski, has outdone himself with this clever, playful superhero tale. His witty and humorous text is dramatic and engaging. But it's his bold, bright, and busy collage artwork that really makes this story come alive. Each page is filled with dazzling color, eye-catching detail, marvelous sound effects, and lots of energy, and little ones will revel in all the fun-filled, sumo wrestling action. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Sumo Mouse is a delightful, manic romp that begs to be read aloud and shared. "If the earth begins to shake,/If the sea makes buildings break,/Don't be filled with great dismay!/Sumo Mouse will save the day!"

Not for Children!

A golem is an artificial person created by Jewish mystical methods. The origin of the term apparently begins with the hapax legomenen (a term which appears only once in the Bible) 'golmi' which is variously translated "unformed substance," "embryo," and "life stages." In this case, 'golmi' appears at Psalms 139, verse 16. Various legends surrounding the golem are cataloged by Gershon Scholem in the Encyclopedia Judaica, and Leo Rosten, in the classic "Joys of Yiddish" suggests it is the inspiration of Frankenstein's monster.

In this this book, which is faithful to a point to the Jewish legend, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, chief rabbi of Prague in 1580, creates a golem to protect the Jews from the violence of angry mobs incited by the infamous 'blood libel' current during the holiday of Passover.

This book is a Trojan horse. This Caldecott medal winner will lure you and your child in with its spectacular cut paper illustrations, but the themes and imagery are most certainly not suitable for children. Most particularly, the following quotation is taken from an early page of the book in which the rabbi charges his golem with his mission: "You will guard the ghetto at night and catch those planting false evidence of the Blood lie. They are godless men, carrying bottles of blood or the body of a misssing child." This is enough to give nightmares to the 9 year olds within the age range suggested by publisher. I would adjust this age range to include only 12 year olds and up.

At the end, the book provides an excellent note, which only serves to reinforce the reviewer's opinion that this volume is 'for adults only.'

....

Golem is a gorgeously illustrated, well-written, and educational tale, with deep connections to Jewish tradition and faith. However, the story is also very sad and distressing, especially for those who are impressionable or sensitive. I suggest that parents review this book carefully, looking through their children's eyes, before sharing it even with teenagers; likewise, I suggest they be prepared for some nearly unanswerable questions.

The book retells the legend of Rabbi Leow and the Golem he created from clay to protect the Jews of Prague during a time of danger for them. Anti-semitic factions within the city were spreading rumors that Passover matzoh was made with the blood of Christian children; this rumor, called the Blood Lie, led to attacks and abuses of the defenseless Jews. Already, the story is a deeply distressing one, too upsetting for the average child. It gets worse, though - the Golem, who calls Rabbi Leow 'Father,' protects and saves the Jews, and then begs the Rabbi not to kill him. Leow does anyway. While the message here is one about the wise use of power, it was mostly lost on our family, since at that point everyone was crying too hard to think at all.

There's no doubt that the book is well presented. It's beautiful, with cut-paper illustrations that seem to spring off the page. However, even these gorgeous pictures cast a pall; they are grim in tone and appearance, at times giving a hellish cast to a story that needed no further embroidering in that department. The novel medium - photographs of cut paper - and the success with which it is used do merit the Caldecott Medal.

However, unlike most Caldecott books, this one is not for casual or entertainment reading, nor is it for children. I can't emphasize this enough. I would never read this book with children younger than 12, or ones unfamiliar with Jewish history; even as it is, I more than half regret sharing it, despite its beauty, depth, and educational value. It provoked some painful questions (in particular, about the cruelty of all people, including Rabbi Leow) and left us all depressed.

GOLEM is a beautiful book. A children's retelling of the Jewish legend of Rabbi Judah Loew and the creature he created to save the Jews of Prague from destruction in 1580, the tale is simply and poignantly told, with lavish cut-paper illustrations in dynamic colors and shapes. This book is a Caldecott Medal Winner, and well-deservedly.

A word of caution, though---the illustrations can be dark and frightening for younger children, and the morality of the tale is complex and disturbing, even for adults.

For those who are not familiar with the legend, it concerns the "Blood Libel," that fantastical tale that the Jews had used Christian blood in the baking of Passover matzohs, and Rabbi Loew's attempts to stave off a resultant pogrom (riot) in Prague by creating a Frankenstein's monster which "does it's work almost too well." Upon saving the Jews, Rabbi Loew returns the Golem to the earth from which it came.

Sensitive and inquiring children (and adults) will be filled with questions, particularly as to why the Golem, who is both mindlessly, childishly destructive and sweetly childlike in his appreciation of flowers and sunsets, is rewarded by his creator with death after completing his appointed task.

These are saddening, unanswerable questions, but make GOLEM a true parable of human life. Children and parents may weep together over the injustices described here.

Definitely not for unsophisticated youngsters,or for adults faint of heart or spirit, this book should be shared and discussed at length and in depth.