Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan

 

 

Bibliography:

Bryan, Ashley. 2003. Beautiful Blackbird. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689847318

 

Plot Summary:

Blackbird has been named the most beautiful bird in the forest by all of the other birds. In time, the other birds decide they want to be just as beautiful as Blackbird is. One day the birds ask Blackbird if he would give them a little bit of black coloring so they might be beautiful as well. Blackbird agrees to share his color with the other birds, but also works to teach the birds that real beauty comes from within.

 

Critical Analysis:

Beautiful Blackbird is Bryan’s variation on the Ila-speaking people of Zambia’s folktale on how the beautiful birds of the jungle got their attractive markings. 

Ashley Bryan chose to use a collage in order to illustrate Beautiful Blackbird. The collage allows for simple, bold and defined shapes which are easy for young readers to interpret. The brightness of the colors draws in readers with each turn of the page. The collage images perfectly match the text on each and every page making it so the images really are telling the story. Interestingly enough, a note at the end of the book states the collages were constructed using his mother’s old dressmaking scissors and her embroidery crochet scissors.

The text itself offers a rhythmic beat throughout the story which begs to be read aloud by an exciting storyteller. Children will no doubt want to dance along with the words in the story just as the birds do. This pourquoi tale not only offers a folk-type re-telling of how birds got their markings, but it also offers a lesson in self-esteem.

 

This title is recommended for children ages 3 and up.

 

Review Excerpt(s):

• Coretta Scott King Book Award (2004) Illustrator Award Winner
• Kirkus Reviews (2002) “This telling, by the master storyteller, just aches to be read aloud; the lively rhythms keep the simple folktale rollicking along."
• School Library Journal (2003) "...a thoughtful and entertaining addition to units on self-esteem."

Connections:

•  Pair this title with other great favorites such as:
               How the Tiger Got His Stripes by Robe Cleveland & Baird Hoffmire
               The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola
               Baba Yaga by Katya Arnold
• Allow the child(ren) to create their own beautiful birds. Cut out several bird silhouettes in different sizes, shapes and colors. Provide different colored markers for the child(ren) to decorate the birds with. 
• Compile a bird watching booklet for the child(ren). Locate images and basic information about local birds to put inside of the booklet. Be sure to leave a space for the child(ren) to color/write in so they can describe their bird watching experiences. Encourage the children to find as many 'beautiful' birds as they can.