Review: BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD, Module 3, Traditional Tales

Bryan, Ashley. 2003. BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. New York: Atheneum Books for
Young Readers. ISBN# 0689847319

In this African folktale blackbird teaches the other birds of the forest that inner beauty comes from within and is reflected in actions. The other birds all long for blackness like blackbird. Blackbird is a bird which they all look up to, he is strong and confident. His color is beautiful and shiny and all colors are reflected in the blackness. In this story blackbird tells the others “Color on the outside is not what’s on the inside.” He does end up sharing pieces of his blackness but he also shares his personal inner qualities of shown in rhythm and dance. The wording in this book is very fun and musical. Key words are repeated and children will want to chime right in. The illustrations are bold and colorful cut paper collages. The illustrations are even more interesting when the authors note is read at the end of the story. In this note information is shared that the illustrations were actually cut with scissors which handed down by the author’s mother.