An Angel for Solomon Singer

An Angel for Solomon Singer

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Peter Catalanotto

Ages: 4-6 Grades

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary: Solomon Singer is a lonely man who lives a simple life. He spends his time dreaming of being back in Indiana where he was raised and was surrounded with love. He yearns for this until a he meets a waiter named Angel who helps him through some of his struggles.

At first, a reader might not think that a story like this does not qualify as multicultural, much like when I first read it. But, multiculturalism is not limited to race or traditions or even ethnicities. Diversity within a culture in relation to class is also something we can take a look at, especially with Solomon Singer. He is a lonely man who lives a different lifestyle than most. Residing in a hotel for men he dreams of the life he used to have. As I read, it made me wonder what happened to him and why he lived in this particular lifestyle. The story is really ambiguous in the sense that it never gives the details of his past other than those that make him happy. Angel, the waiter helps him think of those dreams in a different way and helps him feel loved and more at peace with the lifestyle that he must live. The water color images from Solomon’s current lifestyle are blended with those of his past to create beautiful images that harvest the emotions that he feels throughout the text.

I feel that this book is more appropriate for a more mature audience in that it talks about social class in a subtle way. This could fit into a social studies curriculum to help children understand the lifestyle of others than their own. This book is also full of hope and faith which could be major talking points, as well.