The Sole Man: Jan Matzeliger's Lasting Invention

by Shana Keller, Stephen Costanza (illustrator)

In 1873, at the age of 21, Jan Ernst Matzeliger immigrated to America, having left all that was familiar behind in South America. He arrived with hopes and dreams of a bright future in this new country. Though Jan had no formal training, he was highly skillful with tools and machinery, having worked in his father's mechanic shops. But no one wanted to hire a Black immigrant who didn't speak English. Yet Jan didn't give up. He finally got a job at a shoe factory. As Jan learned the process and craft of shoemaking, he envisioned a new machine, a lasting machine, that would help produce more shoes more efficiently. People scoffed at Jan's idea, telling him it wasn't possible. But he wasn't deterred. Despite many obstacles, after years of planning, drawing, and experimenting, Jan is finally ready to demonstrate his lasting machine. And his invention will change the shoe industry forever. The little-known story of Jan Matzeliger and his machine comes to life for young readers.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Technology

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2024

About the author

Shana Keller is passionate about history. She began her studies of African American history at the University of Miami in Florida and has delved deep into our nation’s diverse past ever since. She is the author of several award-winning picture books including Do You Know Them? Families Lost and Found After the Civil War, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; Ticktock Banneker’s Clock, Best STEM book, Children’s Book Council; and Bread for Words: A Frederick Douglass Story, an Irma Black Award Honor. Other titles include Fly, Firefly!; The Peach Pit Parade: A World War I Story; The Sole Man: Jan Matzeliger’s Lasting Invention, a EUREKA! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Honor; and soon to be released, CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella (2025). Shana has traveled her whole life and has lived all over the United States and in Europe, too. Shana currently resides in North Carolina where she continues to write stories linking our past to the present.

Reviews

[Kathy Temean]

I loved that you found a story that combines history and introduces children to patents and the concept of all the work that goes into receiving a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for something you invent. I can see how the wheels will start turning in young brains and looking at things in new ways. Inspecting tools, gadgets, or items they could improve. I am sure this is not a conversation that parents discuss at the dinner table. 

In addition to all that, Jan Matzeliger's life story will inspire children. Even though it was a decade after the Civil War when Jan arrived in America, no one wanted to hire a black immigrant who didn't speak English; he didn't give up. He kept pushing forward despite people laughing at his ideas and telling him, "That can't be done." Perseverance is a valuable trait to have. Parents and teachers will appreciate having children read this book, hoping they'll absorb some of Jan's persistence.

Jan died six years after his patent was approved, but his remarkable invention left an enduring impact on the world. His design spurred a billion-dollar industry that increased shoe production by 1000 percent and is still used today. I wish I had the 29-cent stamp the United States Postal Service issued to honor Jan E. Matzeliger in 1991 as part of the Black Heritage stamp series. I learned that in the book's back matter, but there are so many more interesting things to discover there.

Stephen Costanza's illustrations are amazing. This whole book is a work of art. Everyone who reads this will love it, from the cover to the last page.

[Rachel]

Lovely artwork and interesting, if niche story.

This story follows Jan Matzeliger, a black immigrant from Suriname, as he works to invent a machine that would speed up the shoe-making process, thus allowing more shoes to be produced faster and cheaper.

The shoe-making aspect of the story may be the...'least interesting' isn't the right phrase, because it is interesting, but I don't know how many children would get excited over it...but the BIPOC/immigrant-inventor aspect is a big draw. This would be an excellent option for kid-inventors and a great Black History Month title. I loved the illustrations - a sort of primitive/folk style meets steampunk (look, I don't know much about art, so if this description is wrong, my apologies to the illustrator). Back matter gives more detail into the short life of Jan Matzeliger (and it's frankly a little depressing - it's not much of a happy ending).

Recommended.

[John Mullarkey]

This is an inspiring picture book biography of the inventor of the lasting machine, Jan Matzeliger. You may wonder: just what is a lasting machine? I did as well. In a nutshell - it revolutionized the manufacturing of shoes in the late 1800’s. This is a unique biography of someone who was given little chance of success when he came to America, but his desire for success and work ethic proved greater than the odds against him. Despite a rather ordinary type of product his invention improved, the lasting machine’s creation and unique form of engineering and design is fascinating - enhanced of course, by Stephen Costanza’s wonderful colorful and detailed illustrations. Included as well is the informative back matter that adds further details to Jan Matzeliger’s story.

[Bookishrealm]

This was such a charming biography that highlighted a piece of American history that I knew absolutely nothing about. I'm always happy when authors, illustrators, and publishers make the decision to utilize informational picture books to highlight people in history that we don't hear much about. Stephen Costanza did a wonderful with the artwork.

[Jaclyn]

Vivid patterns and backgrounds everywhere make this eye catching for sure

[KMitch]

Engaging picture book biography about perseverance - would be a great read aloud

[D]

4-

[Carol Gordon Ekster]

Inspirational biography of Jan Matzeliger. Illustrations by Stephen Costanza were detailed and fabulous!