Beautiful Blackbird

Coretta Scott King Award winner Ashley Bryan's adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia resonates both with rhythm and the tale's universal meanings--appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within. His cut-paper artwork will charm and delight readers of all ages.

Black is beautiful, uh-huh

Long ago, Blackbird was voted the most beautiful bird in the forest. The other birds, who were colored red, yellow, blue, and green, were so envious that they begged Blackbird to paint their feathers with a touch of black so they could be beautiful too. Although Black-bird warns them that true beauty comes from within, the other birds persist and soon each is given a ring of black around their neck or a dot of black on their wings--markings that detail birds to this very day.

Coretta Scott King Award-winner Ashley Bryan's adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia reso-nates both with rhythm and the tale's universal meanings -- appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within. His cut-paper artwork is a joy.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 01/01/2003
ISBN: 9780689847318
Pages: 40
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 10.84h x 9.78w x 0.32d
Award: Texas 2x2 Reading List - Recommended
Award: Coretta Scott King Award - Winner

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 11/18/2002 pg. 59
Kirkus Review - Children 12/01/2002 pg. 1766
Black Issues Book Review 01/01/2003 pg. 64
School Library Journal 01/01/2003 pg. 118
Booklist 01/01/2003 pg. 894
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 02/01/2003 pg. 227
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2003 pg. 220
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2003 pg. 404 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2003 pg. 404 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 66794 / Beautiful Blackbird
Reading Level: 3.7 / Interest Level: Lower Grade / Point Value: 0.5