Beautiful Blackbird

 Beautiful Blackbird Review 

By Kelly Hartman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. Beautiful Blackbird. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003 ISBN 0689847319

PLOT SUMMARY

Even though all of the birds of Africa are colorful, Blackbird is honored as the most beautiful of all. Ringdove is the first to request a ring of black around his neck, so Blackbird obliges by creating a "blackening brew in his medicine gourd." Soon all of the birds want a a touch of black with a painted line or a dot. In the end, all of the birds celebrate that black is beautiful, but Blackbird focuses on the importance of inner beauty.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

In his retelling of a Zambian tale, Ashley Bryan manages to create a story unique to the African culture while sending a global message of tolerance and acceptance. From the rhythm of the Show Claws Slide-"wings flip-flapping" and rap-like chants of "Black is beautiful, UH-HUH", Bryan invites the reader to participate in a celebration of his ethnicity. Ringdove's personal request of a ring of black sparks an interest in all of the birds of the forest; yet Blackbird is clear: "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside." Confident of his beauty, Blackbird is happy to share with the other birds; but ultimately he believes that the birds should stay true to self: "Just remember, whatever I do, I'll be me and you'll be you." In the end, Beautiful Blackbird balances the importance of pride in one's own culture while appreciating another.  

Bryan's artwork won the 2004 Coretta Scott Illustrator Award. By showcasing his mother's sewing and embroidering scissors on the endpapers, Bryan pays homage to his own heritage. In an author's note, he states that these were the scissors that he used to create the design of cut-paper for his story. Readers will be mesmerized by Bryan's cultural collage of colors and yet drawn to his focal point, Blackbird.  

AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

2004 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner

Texas 2 x 2 List

"In this simple adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia, the message is clear: "Black is beautiful." "Ready-made for participative storytelling." Julie Cummins from Booklist 

CONNECTIONS

Author Study

   

    Introduction by Ashley Bryan and Read aloud of Beautiful Blackbird

    Official Website 

    Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival 

Activities

    Learn the Show Claws Slide 

    Create Beaks and Claws

Gather more African Folktales 

A Story, A Story; An African Tale  9780689712012

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti 9780805003116

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters 9780688040451

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale 9780140549058