Our Golda: The Story of Golda Meir

by David A. Adler

A biography of the Israeli prime minister and world leader, emphasizing her early childhood and youth in Russia and America.

Genres: Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this in school today and one of my students said that her parents know the author. That it also wrote the cam books that they all like so that was interesting. I learned a lot and of course took notes because that is who I am

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good history of once ancient and now modern and now current events

[Daniel L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Did Golda Get Her Courage? Read On!

"You cannot decide whether we should fight or not. We will.... You can only decide one thing. Whether we shall be victorious." How did Golda Meir get her courage, author David Adler asks. To answer that, he explored the life of this remarkable woman and set her story in writing.

Having read several of David Adler's books, I admit I have a certain brand loyalty, an admiration for his writing. I heartily recommend anything by Mr. Adler, and this little book is no exception. David Alder is known for his excellent treatment of Jewish people who can teach us from the remarkable lives they have led. As with his biography on Janusz Korczak, the subject of this book had to overcome great obstacles.

Young Golda was outspoken and shared her passions and dreams for eretz Israel, a land of peace where Jews could live their faith. Her life is divided into chapters according to where she lived and what she accomplished in each place: Kiev, Pinsk, Milwaukee, Palestine, and Israel. Not only was Golda an exemplary Jew, she was a remarkable and courageous woman. Adler's biography earned him honorable mention for the Carter G. Woodson Award. (Dr. Woodson created Black History Month to enable children and adults to learn from the lives of great people.)

David Adler treats his subject - and audience - with great respect and tells his story in the sympathetic way for which he is deservedly known. Children can learn a lot from reading the biographies of people who led noteworthy, if not extraordinary lives. This sentiment holds especially true for this excellent little book, a child with great dreams and the courage to realize them.

[Stephanie Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good biography about Golda Meir. David Adler does a good job conveying the life of Golda to readers, but he does so in a rather straightforward way that sometimes is not very engaging. However, Adler does provide key information about Golda's life, challenges, and legacy. There are some pencil sketch illustrations in the book, but I did not think they contributed much to the text. I wish Adler had included actual photographs of Golda and the Middle East. This is still a good introduction to the amazing life and legacy of Golda Meir.

[WSL Library]

X2