The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
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The Iron Man: A Children’s Story In Five nights by Ted Hughes does indeed consist of five chapters; designed to be read a chapter per night, although some children may find it difficult to wait a whole day to hear more of this exciting story.
Set in an unnamed rural town, a town where a small boy called Hogarth goes fishing in the local stream only to come across an Iron Man with a head as big as a bedroom and eyes that flash from blue to red. The Iron Man begins his adventure in this town on the beach where, unwittingly, he steps from the cliff only to fall into several pieces on the rocks and sand below, but if you thought this was the end of the tale you’d be very much mistaken because the Iron Man returns and Hogarth must get to the town to raise the alarm, he must get home where he will be safe. The fact that when he does tell the grown-ups that they believe him and are unsure what to do really makes this story thrilling for children as they realise they are on an even footing with the adults. It is Hogarth that helps when the adults wants to trap it and when the Earth is in it’s hour of need; prey to an enormous bat-angel creature from space that threatens to devour every living thing on the planet, it is again Hogarth, the child, that sees the only one that can help is the Iron Man. We learn at the end of the story the space creature is actually a star spirit of peace, tempted by the greed it sees when it lands on the planet, but now destined to fly around the earth every night at the behest of the Iron Man and sing to the people of Earth until they too no longer want to war with their neighbour but live in peace.
“The Iron Man came to the top of the cliff. How far he had walked? Nobody knows. Where he had come from? Nobody knows. How he was made? Nobody knows.” 
The story begins in such a compelling way that you are horrified and thrilled at the same time as Hughes describes this seemingly otherworldly sentient machine that bites tractors in two and has seemingly little regard for anyone or anything other than filling its own belly. Rather than trying to understand this ‘being’ the adults plan is to bury it; hide it away and forget about it, but this plan of course ultimately fails so it is left to a child to understand the creature’s motives and create a solution that is beneficial to everyone. A simple premise once again repeated with the space creature. A beautiful tale of understanding and tolerance that is simply told and as enjoyable to read today as when first published forty years ago.
The Iron Man: A Children's Story in Five Nights (Amazon.co.uk)
Author: Ted Hughes
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 64
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Publisher: Faber Children's Books
RRP: £4.99
Lowest new price: £0.20
Lowest used price: £0.19
The Iron Man (Amazon.com)
Author: Ted Hughes
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 64
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Publisher: Faber Children's Books
RRP: $10.35
Lowest new price: $3.20
Lowest used price: $3.20
Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction caused by the Iron Man. A trap is set for him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.
Product Description
Sophie
"I love The Iron Man, I think it is very interesting. I am learning about it in school we take it out loads of times."
Olivia from Luton
"I loved it, it makes you want to read more. We are learning about it in school and I am so glad! It rules! What a shame Ted Hughes died he, was so talented to write such a great book."
Nicole from Aldershot
"I think The Iron Man is a great book because its gets me learning and its great fun to read!!!"
Katie Frizzel from Orange
"The Iron Man is an excellent novel and I am reading this book because I think Ted Hughes is an excellent author."
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