Beautiful Blackbird

Beautiful Blackbird- Ashley Bryan

Citation:

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

Plot Summary:

            BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD is a Zambian folktale that explains about how the birds of Africa used to be all sorts of colors, and there was only one blackbird, who was voted the most beautiful of them all. This story is a reflection of how beauty comes from within, rather than the beauty on the outside. The blackbird agrees to paint the birds with markings either around their neck or on their wings. Today the marking are still reflected on the birds.

Critical Analysis:

                This story stresses the how the beauty comes from within each of the birds, and the colorful pictures allow children to understand the different personalities and colors of the birds. Blackbird carefully explains how this will change the birds, but they go through with it. Ashley Bryan captures the essence of the Zambian folktale with the bright pictures and simple dictation. This book is easily related to and can be used in a multitude of settings. This would be particularly beneficial for younger readers who are questioning the differences between themselves and their peers.

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly: “Bryan's collages make up for it with their exhibition of colorful splendor and composition. Scenes of the rainbow of wings are outdone only by a lakeside view of their colors intricately "mirrored in the waters."”

 

School Library Journal: “Adapted from an Ila tale from Zambia, this story delivers a somewhat contradictory message. Blackbird frequently affirms that it's what's inside that counts but his avian friends are certainly fixated on adding some black to their feathered finery.”

Connections:

Other books by Ashley Bryan

African Folktales: http://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales.html

Whoever you are by Mem Fox