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The Steel Pan Man of Harlem
The city of Harlem is overrun by rats. One day, a mysterious man appears with a steel pan drum, promising to rid the city of its problem--for a price. The mayor has no choice but to agree. The steel pan man plays the sweetest melody anyone has ever heard and dances the rats out of the city.
Library Binding, 32 pages
Published
November 1st 2009
by Carolrhoda Books
(first published January 1st 2009)
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Main Character: The Steel Pan Man
Setting: Harlem
POV: Narrator
Grade Level: 1st-2nd
Reading Level: Fountas-Pinnell - K
Genre: Picture Book
Rats are taking over Harlem, and nobody knows what to do to solve the problem. The mayor and the citizens watch as their city is slowly being taken over by rats. Their presence is felt in homes, on streets and by the subway. What is Harlem to do? The steel pan man of Harlem comes into town and starts playing his terrific melody. People and rats are dancing uncontr...more
Setting: Harlem
POV: Narrator
Grade Level: 1st-2nd
Reading Level: Fountas-Pinnell - K
Genre: Picture Book
Rats are taking over Harlem, and nobody knows what to do to solve the problem. The mayor and the citizens watch as their city is slowly being taken over by rats. Their presence is felt in homes, on streets and by the subway. What is Harlem to do? The steel pan man of Harlem comes into town and starts playing his terrific melody. People and rats are dancing uncontr...more
Colin Bootman's story is based on a retelling of Browning's "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," a poem that impressed him when he heard it in the school library at age seven. The piper is recast as a steel drum player, and the enchantment, once the rats are gone, is cast on adults, not children. A bright, almost garish color palette helps to underscore that this is fantasy, in the scenes of 1930s or 40s Harlem folks, white and black, dancing and being unable to stop. I wished that my father were still...more
My niece and nephew both liked this retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin (although I was surprised to learn that neither of them are familiar with the original story). With its Caribbean meets Harlem Renaissance vibe, The Steel Pan Man was a unique spin on an old classic.
The pictures in this book gave us a fun blend of silly alongside realism, and they were beautifully rendered, and full of movement and color. At first I thought the pictures were too dark. It wasn't until about 2/3 of the way...more
The pictures in this book gave us a fun blend of silly alongside realism, and they were beautifully rendered, and full of movement and color. At first I thought the pictures were too dark. It wasn't until about 2/3 of the way...more
This is a terrific re-telling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, set in the Harlem Renaissance.
What I really love about this book is how the lines of the artwork draw the reader into the dancing of the various characters. The multi-racial cast is beautifully portrayed, and the infusion of the rats in the beginning is gorgeously creepy.
It also doesn't hurt that I LOVE steel pan music!
What I really love about this book is how the lines of the artwork draw the reader into the dancing of the various characters. The multi-racial cast is beautifully portrayed, and the infusion of the rats in the beginning is gorgeously creepy.
It also doesn't hurt that I LOVE steel pan music!
I love the illustrations in this book because they are extremely colorful and detailed. This book is great to use to teach students about the importance of keeping your word and caring for others. It could also be used as a book to begin talking about the Harlem Renaissance.
The Steel Pan Man of Harlem is about a city that has a rat problem, but one man thinks he can fix it for the right price. He sings and clangs his pan and the rats eventually disappear. This book was enjoyable for me. I believe children would enjoy reading it as well.
As retellings go, this one is very creative. The famous Grimm's story has been adapted to Harlem during the renaissance quite seamlessly. The power of the story still palpable. The major emotional component of the book is the illustrations.
Interesting spin on Pied Piper tale with Harlem as the setting and steel drums in place of the pipes. Cool illustrations with lots of vibrant colors throughout.
An interesting retelling of The Pied Piper.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin set in Harlem. Fun illustrations--realistic with a touch of humor.
Mar 14, 2013
Cheryl in CC NV
marked it as incompletely-investigated
Nov 16, 2011
Matthew
marked it as to-read
Nov 12, 2011
Monica
added it
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Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad but moved to the United States at the age of seven. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, he has illustrated numerous books for children, including Dad, Jackie, and Me. Almost to Freedom was a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book. Bootman lives in New York City.
More about Colin Bootman...
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