Metal Man

Devon has a certain interests in the "metal man". He makes entirely cool things out of junk. One day Devon decides that he wants the metal man to make something for him. When Devon brings the creation home his mom says that it is not junk anymore and he loves that his mom loves his creation. I love how the idea of being creative and seeing the best in a situation is displayed in this story.

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 show 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. show less

The storyline was this book's greatest strength in my opinion but the artwork was beautiful and alive. The book celebrates art and empowers the main character to create his own piece of art. The book also depicts the importance of elders and adult role models in helping kids shape their identities and creative sides.

Devon becomes fascinated by a man in the neighborhood who welds junk into sculptures. Metal Man shows Devon that he can be a sculptor too, coaxing the ideas from Devon's head until it becomes a physical work of art that he can take home and show his mother. This book is simple yet effective, teaching students that anyone can be an artist, especially when encouraged by a mentor.

I love the friendship between the little boy and the artist. The blurb says it all - and the book successfully lives up to the promise implicit there.

Strong illustration, great use of descriptive language and encouragement - "Bring it out to play". Great read for kids and adults, especially teachers and those who teach.

This book is about how a young boy that goes to a metal workshop. He asks the metal man to make a house out of metal.