LSSL 5360 Module 2 Review: Beautiful Blackbird

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

PLOT SUMMARY

Long ago, the colorful birds of Africa voted Blackbird to be the more beautiful of all.  They beg him to share his beauty and rich, black color with them so that they too can be beautiful as he is.  The birds come from far and wide to get in line for Blackbird to paint them with his “blackening brew” because “black is beautiful” and they want to be beautiful too.      

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Ashley Bryan uses colorful collage to breathe life into an African folktale about how Blackbird shares his beauty by painting the other birds with his “blackening brew.”  Each page is filled with vibrant colors to capture the reader’s attention.  His words flow across the page in an almost rhythmic way with carefully placed rhyme.  His interspersed lyrical phrases gives the book a sing-song feeling when read aloud and brings a true African feel to this folktale about how beauty is spread in the forest.  

Though it is not overtly stated, the book is meant to encourage African-American children to be proud of their heritage, along with all races and ethnicities to embrace their inner beauty.  

There do appear to be a few inconsistencies in the storyline.  Though Blackbird preaches that, “Color on the outside, is not what’s on the inside,” he continues to stripe the other birds with his black coloring.  These contradictions may get in the way of the author’s intended lesson of self-esteem.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Coretta Scott King Award Winner

Here's a life-enhancing folktale from Zambia--how birds got their black markings--and a simple, scissors-and-brush way of using collage. - Horn Book Guide, 2003

CONNECTIONS

This is a book that encourages children be comfortable in their own skin and accept the differences in other cultures and ethnic groups.

Other books on self-esteem:

Adams, Christine.  Happy to Be Me!: A Kid Book about Self-Esteem. ISBN 978-0870293559

Curtis, Jamie Lee. I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem.  ISBN 978-0060287610