Boys of Steel facts for kids
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| Author | Marc Tyler Nobleman |
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| Illustrator | Ross MacDonald |
| Cover artist | Ross MacDonald |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Children's, biography |
| Genre | Juvenile nonfiction |
| Publisher | Knopf Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Random House Children's Books) |
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Publication date
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July 22, 2008 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 40 |
| ISBN | 978-0-375-83802-6 |
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman is an exciting picture book by Marc Tyler Nobleman. It tells the true story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. They are the amazing creators of the famous superhero, Superman. This book is the first picture book to focus only on their story.
The Story of Superman's Creators
This book shares how Superman came to be. It introduces Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster. They were shy teenagers living in Cleveland during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people faced tough economic challenges.
Jerry and Joe loved to escape into worlds of science fiction. They enjoyed reading adventure stories from pulp magazines. Jerry wished he could be like heroes such as Tarzan or Flash Gordon. Joe loved drawing sci-fi heroes, even though he wasn't good at sports.
In 1934, when they were both 20, Jerry had an idea for a new hero. He called him "Superman." Joe then drew early pictures of this hero. They even labeled the drawings with an "S" for "super," and for "Siegel" and "Shuster."
It took four more years for them to find a publisher. Finally, someone decided to take a chance on their character. Superman first appeared in a new kind of book called a comic book.
In June 1938, Superman launched in Action Comics. The book shows how exciting this achievement was. The illustrations by Ross MacDonald use bright colors like gold, blue, and red. They show Jerry thinking about Superman's powers. They also show the friends casting a single, caped shadow. The book also mentions that Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to Superman for $130. This was a small amount for such a big creation.
How the Book Was Made
Marc Tyler Nobleman, the author, first heard about Superman's origin in high school. Years later, he decided to write about it. He wanted to tell the story as a picture book for young readers.
Nobleman wanted Boys of Steel to end on a happy note. He focused on the strong friendship between Jerry and Joe. He also highlighted their early success. They were two young people from the Depression era who never stopped believing in their hero.
To research the book, Nobleman used published interviews with the creators. He also found information in Cleveland. This helped him build the story.
The publisher, Random House, chose Ross MacDonald to illustrate the book. Nobleman already liked MacDonald's unique art style.
What People Think
Many people have praised Boys of Steel. Booklist said that this book "does [Shuster and Siegel’s] story justice." This means it tells their story well.
Fun Facts
Marc Tyler Nobleman shared a cool secret about the book. He never actually uses the word "Superman" in the main story. He says "Super," but not the full name. He wanted readers to notice this fun trick. It shows how powerful pictures can be in a book. The illustrator could show Superman without the word ever being written.
