1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bryan, Ashley. 2003. BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. New York: Simon and Schuster.
ISBN-10: 0689847319
2.PLOT SUMMARY
In this folktale Beautiful Blackbird tells the story of how the birds of Africa used to be many bright colors. The only bird that had any black on his feathers was the blackbird. He was thought to be the most beautiful of all the birds. Suddenly Ringdove wants to be black like beautiful blackbird. After Ringdove calls all the birds to a festival he asks a question to all birds, “Who is the most beautiful of all the birds?” Everyone responds with “Blackbird is the most beautiful.” Soon after other birds want to have the color black on them so they too will be beautiful. Blackbird agrees to paint them black but, wants them to realize that it is not the color on the outside that makes them beautiful , it is what on the inside.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
It displays a universal meaning in appreciating ones heritage and finding beauty within and not what lies on the outside. I believe the main theme/message that Ashley Bryan sends is to be happy with who you are and not to become someone you are not.
Its style features sounds of onamataepia when Ringdove aks a question, “Coo-coo-roo, coo-ca-roo”. I imagine hearing Ringdove’s call. It has a rhythm that children are familiar with and repetition which is important in literacy.Its message displays a sense of pride in one’s heritage. It has a rhythm that children are familiar with and repetition which is important in literacy. Its message displays a sense of pride in one’s heritage. Initially the story represents black as beautiful however, the Blackbirds message of “Color on the outside is not what’s on the inside. You don’t act like me. You don’t eat like me. This self affirming message is that all races are important not only African-American.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly
School Library Journal
5. CONNECTIONS
*Lesson plans for Beautiful Blackbird are found on: https://www.roundrockisd.org/docs/4-beautiful_blackbird.pdf
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