Title: The Steel Pan Man of Harlem
Illustrator: Colin Bootman
Readability: 4.3
Genre: Picture Book
Sub genre : Historical Fiction
Characters: Steel Pan Man, Mayor, the people of Harlem
Theme: Doing the right thing and keeping one's word
Award(s) and date of publication: 2009
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
ISBN: 978-0-8225-9026-2
Summary:
In Harlem there was a rat problem, wherever people would look they would find a rat. They tried to get an exterminator and they tried to use traps but the rats were all too smart for that. They finally went to the Mayor about their problem with the rats but he did not have answer for them. One day a man pampered in a subway with a red bag and begin to play a steel pan for the people. The people star dancing and forgot all about the rats.
The next day the Steel Pan Man went and talked to the Mayor about getting rid of the rats. He told him it would only cost him a million dollars and all he had to do was shut down the city for the night. The mayor agreed and the Steel Pan Man went to work that night playing a tune on his pan. All the rats fleed the city. The people were happy but when the Steel Pan Man when to collect his money the Mayor said no. Therefore, the Steel Pan man cast a spell on the city where the people could not stop dancing not even the Mayor. Finally, the Mayor gave in a gave the man his check,but he still could not stop dancing so he danced out the city to be never seen again, and the Steel Pan Man left too.
Use in the Classroom:
This story is a retelling of The Pied Piper of Harlem, I think it would be great to read both stories and describe the differences and similarities of the two. Students could also talk about their favorite musical instruments and maybe do an arts and craft activity along with it.
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