Metal Man

by Aaron Reynolds and Aaron Reynolds

Book Overview

"There's a fire in me, just like that torch."

Devon visits the Metal Man at his fiery workshop every day, despite the scorching heat of the city where he lives. At the Metal Man's shop, sparks fly from his welding torch as he cuts and melts together old pieces of junk into works of art. Devon is fascinated by the Metal Man's creations. Then one day, the Metal Man lets Devon put his own imagination to work.

Aaron Reynolds's urban voice...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580891519
• ISBN13: 9781580891516
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

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This is a great story about seeing art in every day, and about doing art. (It's not a great story about how I can construct a sentence. Sorry about that one!) The pictures are alive and active, and fit the words well. The text... well, the text is written in a non-standard dialect. As far as I'm concerned, this is all for the best. It is GOOD for children to know that not everybody speaks the same way, that other people speak differently (or, alternatively, that there's nothing wrong with the way they speak at home). It is GOOD for people to have more than one way to speak. The person who has two dialects is twice as smart and able as the person who only has one. There is nothing shameful in speaking differently from one another, no more than there is in thinking differently. What a terribly dreary world this would be if we all spoke the same way! If you love language, you let it live, and languages live through changing. But if you're the sort who prefers your language dead in the dictionary, please - read before you buy.

The vibrant drawings of award-winning artist Paul Hoppe practically burst off the page

Metal Man is a children's picturebook told from the point of view of an African-American boy during the heat of summertime. The young boy befriends a welder to turns junk into the most amazing things! The vibrant drawings of award-winning artist Paul Hoppe practically burst off the page in this unabashed celebration of the joys of summer, family, and creating artworks through metal welding.

Metal Man

Reynolds, Aaron. Metal Man. Illustrated by Paul Hoppe. Charlesbridge. 2008. This is a very sweet story about a young African-American boy who loves to watch his neighbor who he calls the "Metal Man" weld metal sculptures. His mom says that the man is just making junk and that "makin' junk out of junk ain't a real job." But the little boy thinks, "Looks like work to me." He sees shapes and objects, and poignantly comments, "When I hang out with the metal man, I get it right. I see what I see. Not like school." The mixed media illustrations in predominantly yellow, brown and blue shades portray an energetic thoughtful boy: emotions flit across his face as he admiringly observes the metal works artist, and then imagines a piece of artwork he would like the artist to create for him, "I wanna make a house in a star". Together, they cut out pieces for a "star-house" and then the "metal man" reminds the young boy to step away while he welds the pieces together with the "angry fire" he characterizes as "killer bees". This lovely paean to creativity showcases a tender interaction between the boy and the man, presents a simple yet vivid description of the process of welding, and reveals a touching change in perspective on the part of the boy's mother, "I'm seein' things different, and maybe Mama is too, all because of that fiery metal man." This is a beautifully rendered book that deserves a wide audience.