African American Literature- BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD

Bibliographic Data

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

Brief Plot Summary

Based on Zambian folklore, a group of colorful birds ask Blackbird which is the most beautiful. Blackbird iterates that beauty is inside, but still adorns each with a bit of black designs after the birds insist.

Critical Analysis

(Scissors used in creating this type of art)

The illustrations bring this title to life. The birds fill the page with color and shapes. They are created with cut pieces of paper. At the beginning we see pairs of scissors. Although it is two-dimensional the size of the shapes create depth.

(Blackbird is large indicating that it is closer than the other birds)

The text of this book is lyrical and musical, similar to spoken word. Lines rhyme and repeat.

“Oh beautiful black, uh-huh, uh huh

Black is beautiful, UH-HUH!”

In this story the color black is the most beautiful. All the birds want to be like Blackbird. Blackbird is not only beautiful on the outside, but also inside. Perhaps some who identify themselves as black would find pride in this message. He reiterates that the birds’ beauty is inside and stresses that each has its own identity by saying that the Ringdove doesn’t act like him, eat like him, or dance like him.

The reader knows this tale is Zambian from the information on the dust jacket. It is an adaptation of the tale. Though the dust jacket also claims that the birds were jealous in this story there is no indication of that emotion in the artwork.

Strengths of this title are the positive messages of beauty and identity. It is great for a read aloud because of the rhythm and the brevity.

Awards & Best Books

Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004 Bank Street College of Education

Capitol Choices, 2004 The Capitol Choices Committee

Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004 H.W. Wilson

Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006 H.W. Wilson

Choices, 2004 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2004 NCTE Children's Literature Assembly

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2004 National Council for the Social Studies

Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2004 Winner Illustrator United States

Review Excerpt(s) (from Horn Book, SLJ, Booklist, etc.)

“Bryan employs boldly colored, cut-paper artwork to dramatize the action. The overlapping collage images fill the pages with energy as the songlike responses of the birds tap out a rhythm punctuated with ‘uh-huhs.’” - Julie Cummins (Booklist, Jan. 1, 2003 (Vol. 99, No. 9))

“The rolling language and appealing illustrations make this a must.” - Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 23))

“Bryan's lilting and magical language is infectious.” - Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)

Connections

As suggested by Smolen and Oswald, try a choral reading together with students (Smolen and Oswald, 2011).

Another great suggestion from Smolen and Oswald includes passing our cutouts of colorful birds and having students decorate them with pieces of black construction paper (Smolen and Oswald, 2011, p.105).