Metal Baby

Parents expecting a child (their first, especially!) begin planning their children’s future before the baby is born, often dreaming of how it will be a carbon copy of them, and that, with example and nurturing, will go on to be the best, the brightest, the most accomplished.

But the reality is, we all have our own individual quirks, personalities and interests. In Metal Baby, the prodigal product of two quiet, crossword-playing, classical music lovers turns out to be a metal head - a non-sleeper, a non-stop action and noise-lover.
The parents try everything in the child-rearing book - soothing car rides, cuddling, feedings and babyish entertainment, but the child just wants to have fun. A babysitter hired to give them respite is a typical teenager, unfortunately, one who also loves heavy metal.

The child’s noise attracts fans, and to the parents’ horror, they organize a concert (Metalpowerpalooza) in the family back yard. The child sings and screams all day and night until the parents realize they should join the musical movement (as in “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em). When they start rocking along with the baby and the crowd, their little one becomes happy and…tired. They’ve found a way to make it settle down so they can all get some sleep.

The story is humorous and a comment on the expectations for conformity that most people have for their children. Stephen W. Martin, a Canadian living in Los Angeles, writes for the Netflix show Trash Truck which was nominated for an Emmy and Federation’s Bravest Warriors, and has written several picture books.

Toronto illustrator Brandon James Scott is a creative director working in animation and the creator and production designer of the Emmy-nominated and CSA-winning Justin Time. His Metal Baby is wide-eyed and vibrant, leaving no mistake about its energy and determination. The contrast in colours and expressions of the beleaguered parents to the bouncing baby and the metal-heads will appeal to young children.

Metal Head is a cautionary tale to parents - to let their child be who they are. Encouraging their child to find their own place in the world may expand the parents’ horizons as well. Children who read this story may feel emboldened to explore ideas that have been niggling inside them, to make them understand that it’s okay to be who they are. They may want to read it to their parents.