Beautiful Blackbird By Ashley Bryan

 

About Book

Title: Beautiful Blackbird
Author & Illustrator: Ashley Bryan
Genre: Fiction, Multicultural
Major Book Awards: 2004 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators
Recommended Age Range: 3 to 7
Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 2nd grade

Summary

This book written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan talks about the colorful African birds that wanted to have markings of black from the black bird. The colorful birds would get together to sing about how beautiful black is. Blackbird says that even if they color themselves with black markings on the outside, they cannot be similar on the inside, but blackbird insists on helping them get the markings they wanted with blackening brew. Getting a touch of black on their colorful bodies were in high demand and all the birds flew out to get it done. All the birds that were lucky enough to get the black markings were all so happy. At the end of the book, the blackbird had all the colorful markings from each bird. 

Evaluation - Would I Incorporate this book in the classroom?

I am in between on if I like this book or not. I understood the message that the book was trying to convey, but I didn't like the way it was done. The message of the book is to be yourself, but I didn't get why all the birds wanted markings to change themselves. It was also weird how they considered themselves beautiful only after getting the markings on them. At the end of the book, it was also random how the blackbird received all the colors from the colorful birds, when it was the same one encouraging all the birds to be themselves. But at the same time, it was nice that blackbird reminded the other birds that even if they change physically, they are still them on the inside. I would say that I really liked how the illustrations are done. The birds and scenery were bright, lively, and colorful. I probably wouldn't use it in my classroom for instruction, because the message can be a little confusing. So, it'll be better to choose another book conveying a similar message. But I think I'll include it in the library for students who are interested to read it.