Book Review - Beautiful Blackbird

 

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. (2003). BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780689847318


  1. PLOT SUMMARY

The author Ashley Bryan shares a folktale from Zambia that explains how different birds got their unique markings. Blackbird is the only black bird in the whole flock and all the other birds want to look like him. He decides to paint some markings on them so that he can share some of his “black”. Blackbird uses all his “blackening brew” to draw rings, circles, dots, and lines on the various birds and they all look different in the end.


  1. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The cadence of the sentences helps create an engaging story that the reader wants to continue. Along with its various rhyming patterns that satisfy the reader every other sentence, the story produces its own rhythm that is easy to follow. The songs woven into the story add another element that is enjoyable for readers and listeners alike. The frequent use of the phrase “uh-huh” and “black, black, black” helps readers and listeners to remember the important parts of the story. “Uh-huh” comes after the phrase “black is beautiful” repeatedly and follows a few other phrases with the word “black” or “Blackbird” in them.


The pictures were very colorful and took up every page. Blackbird was the only darker color in the whole story, so he really stood out amongst the other, brighter birds. In the end, even though all the birds had black markings in some way they still looked different. All of the pictures were actually created with scissors and paper to make a collage. This added an intriguing element as none of the birds were realistic looking, but that helped the story focus on the message that differences are what makes someone unique.


While this story could be attributed to race specifically, it could also be delivered to a broader audience with the more general message that any differences should be celebrated.


  1. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

LAURA INGALLS WILDER AWARD

BOOKLIST - BLUE RIBBON 

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD

KIRKUS REVIEW: “Blackbird talks of the difference a little black can make, but he also emphasizes that external appearances do not reflect the inner self.”


  1. CONNECTIONS

*African folktale

*The story spreads the message that outside appearances don’t matter, it’s what on the inside that counts.

*Other stories about what’s on the inside that matters:

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. ISBN: 9780399257315

I LOVE MYSELF. ISBN: 9780152020132

BLACK GIRL MAGIC: A BOOK ABOUT LOVING YOURSELF JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. ISBN: 9781736144503

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