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.