Kai and the Golem, by Carol Matas, is a golem tale like you’ve never heard before. Matas weaves Jewish folklore, tradition, and adventure into a story that captivates young readers. Elisa Vavouri’s lively illustrations perfectly pair with this sweet multi-generational story.
Rich in imagination and grounded in Jewish tradition, Kai and the Golem teaches young readers the Jewish mitzvah of visiting the sick. The narrative also suggests ways to manage disappointment and strong emotions.
Kai is a thoroughly relatable protagonist whose hopes and frustrations will resonate with children. By the final page, readers are sure to be eager for Kai's next adventure with his extraordinary golem companion.
Kai and the Golem, written by Carol Matas and illustrated by Elisa Vavouri, Kar-Ben Publishing, November 4, 2025.
The following excerpt has been reproduced with permission from the author.
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Bio: Carol Matas is an internationally acclaimed author of fifty novelsfor children and young adults as well as two picture books. Her best-selling work has been translated into over a dozen languages including Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean and Danish.
Many of Carol’s books contain Jewish content and/or Jewish characters. She has written thirteen Holocaust books, including Daniel’s Story for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which has sold over one million copies in the United States and Canada.
Carol’s books have been recognized with over 100 awards and honors including the Sydney Taylor award, three Sydney Taylor honors and two notables, the Geoffrey Bilson award, the Silver Birch award, two Canadian Jewish Book Awards, and National Jewish Book Award Finalist.
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Five delights
My grandchildren in all their wonderfulness.
My children in all their wonderfulness.
Morning walks with my husband where we talk about all there is.
Brilliant green of new buds in the spring, plus bright red tulips, after a winter of all white, and smells of spring - grass, damp earth, pine and fir, followed by lilacs- after the no smells of winter.
Getting lost in a manuscript when hours feel like minutes. Time loses meaning.
Five Jewish delights
Shabbat dinner with the family. And seeing the grownup grandchildren who still attend without fail. (The younger have no choice of course)
Taking my youngest granddaughter to the JCC near us for various celebrations and swimming lessons and watching her feel “at home.”
Listening to the murmur of voices from the living room as my husband taught each grandchild Torah and Bar/Bat Mitzvah prep. (And making their snacks afterwards. Learning is hungry work!)
Jewish history - all of it.
Jewish writing.
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