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Bibliography
Bryan, Ashley. Beautiful Blackbird. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689847319
Plot summary
In this folk story originating from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia (formerly northern Rhodesia), blackbird shares some his beautiful black color with the colorful birds of the jungle.
Critical Analysis
According to this Zambian folktale, long ago the birds of Africa were all different “clean, clear colors from head to tail,” and though they were pretty, they had no markings of black to add pattern to their solid plainness. Only Blackbird had all the color black. As a dance unfolds and the tale progresses, Blackbird shares some of his “blackening brew” by painting designs on the birds with a feather. Bryan’s skilled use of rhythm, repetition, and alliteration entreats for the story to be read or chanted aloud. Young children will quickly pick-up on the repetitions and likely join in the Beak and Wing Dance song during additional readings.
Bryan’s unique collage style artwork causes color to explode from the page. Red, yellow, green, orange, purple, blue cut-out birds create a riot of color that becomes distinctive and strong only with the addition of black. The images of Bryan’s own mother’s embroidery and sewing scissors on the front and end pages accompanied by a note of explanation lends a sense of depth and family culture to the story. Younger children will enjoy the rhythmic reading and naming of colors while cultural messages are shared about external and internal beauty as well as the value of sharing our gifts with others.
Reviews and Honors
· Kirkus excerpt: “This telling, by the master storyteller, just aches to be read aloud; the lively rhythms keep the simple folktale rollicking along.”
· Horn Book Starred excerpt: “Here's a life-enhancing folktale from Zambia--how birds got their black markings--and a simple, scissors-and-brush way of using collage.”
· Coretta Scott King Award 2004
· Laura Ingalls Wilder Award 2009
· Regina Medal Award
· Booklist 01/15/03
· Publishers Weekly 11/18/02
· School Library Journal 01/01/03
· Wilson's Children 10/01/10
Connections
· Host an Ashley Bryan book day with copies of his other books spread in stations throughout the library. Allow students to rotate to stations and enjoy the different titles. Include electronic copies of books on desktops, i-pods, or i-pads at some stations as well as an audio version of Bryan reading one of his books at another station.
Include the titles:
Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry ISBN 0-689-84045-4
Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life's Song ISBN 1-41690-541-3
Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum ISBN 0-689-71107-7
Sing to the Sun : Poems and Pictures ISBN 0-06-443437-0
The Night Has Ears : African Proverbs ISBN 0-689-82427-0
I, Too, Sing America : Three Centuries of African American Poetry (Sound Recording by Audio Bookshelf) ISBN 1-883332-43-5
· After reading Beautiful Blackbird, allow students to create their own paper-cutting collages from multi-color and black paper.
· Create a webquest for older children to research folklore of Zambia as well as biographical information on Ashley Bryan.
