Beautiful Blackbird

Beautiful Blackbird

Bibliography

Bryan, Ashley. 2003. BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. Ill. by Ashley Bryan. New York, NY: Atheneum. ISBN 0689847319

Plot Summary

This is a retelling of an old African tale. Amongst all the birds, Blackbird is considered the most beautiful of them all. The other birds praise him and dance around him. Then Ringdove asks Blackbird to share his black with himself and the other birds. With his black feather, Blackbird gives his touch of color to Ringdove and the others, with reminders that they are still beautiful and unique in their own way. The birds sing and dance and cheer that black is beautiful.

Critical Analysis

    Ashley Bryan's Beautiful Blackbird, is a colorful, rhythmic, and celebratory retelling of a story by the Ila people of Africa. Bryan uses rhyme and bouncy rhythm to weave a charming tale of beauty and uniqueness. These themes are repeated numerously by the other birds ("Black is beautiful, uh-huh!) and by Blackbird ("Just remember, whatever I do, I'll be me and you'll be you"). Children will enjoy the little songs and dances throughout and will no doubtfully join along. 

    To go along with this colorful story is the fantastically colorful illustrations done by Ashley Bryan himself. Using paper cut and shaped by scissors, the art is bold and our eyes are continuously drawn to them, especially to the title character's beautiful black feathers. The uniqueness of the art form pairs wonderfully with this tale and its origins, as lots of African art work is bright and bold in color. 

    Beautiful Blackbird is a tale filled with imagination and wonder and celebrates how gorgeous black can be and how being yourself is beautiful. 

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: "Still, the rolling language and appealing illustrations make this a must."

Horn Book Guide: "Here's a life-enhancing folktale from Zambia--how birds got their black markings--and a simple, scissors-and-brush way of using collage. Silhouetted birds, in shades of violet, yellow, green, blue, are oddly drab without markings. Ringdove asks Blackbird, the most beautiful, to paint him a necklace of black; Blackbird complies, then promises the others touches of black, too. In sum, we can all partake of the beauty of black."

Common Sense Media: "This ode to black, the most inclusive color of all, is satisfying in many ways. The story is an old one brought to new life by the author. Told in the best traditional storytelling fashion, the author uses repetition and rhythm to great effect."

Connections

More by Ashley Bryan: Freedom Over Me, Dancing Granny, Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum

Books that celebrate blackness: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

                                                   All Because You Matter by Tami Charles

                                                   Big by Vashti Harrison

Art Activity: Become an artist like Ashley Bryan! Draw and cut out different images to make a beautiful picture!