- Bibliographic Data
Bryan, Ashley. 2003. Beautiful
Blackbird. Singapore: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN
9780689847318
- Plot Summary
When the world was still new, the birds
were the “clean, clear colors” of the rainbow, but only Blackbird
had any black. Wanting to be as beautiful as Blackbird, the other
birds plead with him to share his black with them. Blackbird agrees
and uses his “blackening brew in [his] medicine gourd” and a
feather brush to give each bird beautiful, unique black markings.
3. Critical Analysis
Set in the mythical past of Africa, “A
long, long time ago,” Bryan introduces readers to the colorful
world of Africa's birds and teaches readers about the important role
art and artist play in our lives. In his retelling of the
traditional African myth, Beautiful Blackbird, Bryan
masterfully employes the irresistible rhythms of Africa into the
birds' dialogue and songs. Readers will want to dance along with
the birds as they sing the “Beak and Wing Dance.” They won't be
able to do anything but nod in agreement as the birds
enthusiastically declare, “Black is beautiful, uh-huh! Black is
beautiful, uh-huh!” Readers will be swept away in the vitality of the
rhythmic language.
Bold bright colors and basic shapes in
the collage art illustrations establish the universal nature of these
birds from the distant past. Though stationary on the page, the
placement of each bird within the world and the line of their bodies
suggest the irrepressible movement of birds and adds vibrancy to the
work. His profusion of color and feather bring readers into the
active, joyous, and creative world of these African birds and are
reminiscent of traditional African art and culture. There is an
energy and a freshness to Bryan's birds that readers will enjoy.
Beautiful Blackbird is an
upbeat, vibrant retelling of a timeless African myth.
- Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)
2004 Coretta Scott King ware for
Illustration
Texas 2X2 Reading List Book
*Publishers Weekly: “Scenes of
the rainbow of wings are outdone only by a lakeside view of their
colors intricately "mirrored in the waters." And Bryan's
lilting and magical language is infectious.”
*School Library Journal: “The
story line is simple and the rhythmic chants of the flock frequently
interspersed throughout the text add drama and a rapper's cadence.”
*Booklist: “In this simple
adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia, the
message is clear: 'Black is beautiful.'...Using a more vivid palette
than usual, Bryan employs boldly colored, cut-paper artwork to
dramatize the action. The overlapping collage images fill the pages
with energy as the song like responses of the birds tap out a rhythm
punctuated with 'uh-huhs.'”
- Connections
*The author, Ashley Bryan, used collage
to make his beautiful illustrations. Try making your own collage of
bird images. You can use construction paper to make free form images
like Bryan, or cut up a nature magazine for images of birds. Try to
recreate one of your favorite images from the book, or invent your
own avian scene.
*Try making up your own dance and song
for the birds from Beautiful Blackbird. Each color is
beautiful, try making up a bird chant about your favorite color.
*More books by Ashley Bryan:
Ashley Bryan's ABC of African
American Poetry. ISBN 0689840454
The Night Has Ears: African
Proverbs. ISBN 0689824270
Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum.
ISBN 0689711077
Turtle Knows Your Name. ISBN
0689717288
The Story of Lightning and Thunder.
ISBN 0689824505
*More books about African mythology:
Haley, Gail E. A Story, A Story:
An African Tale. ISBN 0689205112
Knutson, Barbara. How the Guinea
Fowl Got Her Spots: A Swahili Tale of Friendship. ISBN
0876144164
Aardema, Verna. Why Mosquitoes
Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale. ISBN 0803760892
McDermott, Gerald. Zomo
the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa. ISBN
0152999671
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