Catching the Fire: Philip Simmons, Blacksmith

For eighty years Philip Simmons has molded lumps of metal into beautiful ornamental gates, fences, and railings. In the only book for young readers about this amazing African-American craftsman, Mary E. Lyons crafts a vivid portrait of a remarkable man and his art. Researching the book with intricate care, Lyons visited frequently with Simmons and his coworkers. Using the artist's own words, she has pulled together not only a vision of the man and his work but the story of his remarkable lifetime, from his beginning as the great-grandson of slaves to his achievements as a nationally renowned artist. Philip Simmons is truly a working person's hero and role model. Catching the Fire presents the landscape of his life. This is the story of a man who loves his work and who creates art with passion.