Book Review: Beautiful Blackbird
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What Parents Should Know
Ashley Bryan is a distinguished author and illustrator who
has been creating books for children for thirty years.
Significantly, this is the second time that he has been honored
with the Coretta Scott King Award. He earned this distinction
earlier for his
Beat the Drum, Pum-Pum and has won two Coretta Scott
King Honor awards as well.
Common Sense Media Review
This ode to black, the most inclusive color of all, is
satisfying in many ways. The story is an old one brought to new
life by the author. Told in the best traditional storytelling
fashion, the author uses repetition and rhythm to great effect.
Rhyme is woven discreetly into the text and there are short
poems within the storyline. Bryan's cut paper collage artwork
is in an array of interesting muted colors--from maroon and
pink, to green, blue, orange and gold, and, of course, black.
The figures are lively and incredibly expressive. Young
children will enjoy the colors, the spirited pictures, and the
fun of the lilting text.
From the book:
A long, long time ago, the birds of Africa were all
colors of the rainbow ... clean, clear colors from head to
tail. Oh so pretty, pretty, pretty!
Back then, though, birds had no marks of black on their feathers. From the tops of their heads to the tips of their tails, no markings of black, uh-uh! Whether large or small, Blackbird was the only bird who had it all.
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