Title: Beautiful Blackbird
Author: Ashley Bryan
Illustrator: Ashley Bryan
Genre: Traditional
Age Level: 1st-5th
The illustrations in
Beautiful Black Bird appear to be collage inspired cut outs of birds of various
colors with the exception to black bird, “the most beautiful bird of all.” The
text is written in a rhythmic, slightly repetitive poetic style telling a story
about how the birds wish to be as beautiful as Blackbird. The birds gather
around blackbird to have him paint some blackening brew on them. Though Blackbird
warns that “Color on the outside is not what’s on the inside.” Blackbird used a
feather brush to give the other bird’s small, large, close, far-apart dots and
short and long strips. As Blackbird paints the birds, the illustrations become
larger, brighter and all the birds have a unique appearance they did not have
before. The text also increases on each page; this quickens the reader’s pace,
and emphasizes excitement among the birds. The main theme of this book is appreciating
diversity and one’s uniqueness. This is a great book to introduce children to
the topic of diversity and the beauty of each person’s uniqueness I also
believe, especially going into Special Education that this book would be great for those with a cognitive disability. Teaching students
about beauty, fitting-in, jealousy, and envy is something that correlates with
this book
Coretta Scott King
Award-winner
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