Author / Illustrator: Ashley Bryan
Format: Hardcover
Published: Simon and Shuster, 2003

A long time ago, all the brightly colored birds in Africa voted for the most beautiful among them. "Blackbird stands out best of all. / Blackbird is the most beautiful. / His feathers gleam all colors in the sun. / Blackbird is the most beautiful one." They were so impressed with Blackbird's gleaming black hue that they asked him to paint black details on all their feathers. Blackbird was happy to oblige though he reminded them that true beauty is on the inside. Absolutely magnificent cut paper collages illustrate this adaptation of a folktale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia. Rhythmic text celebrating the beauty of all colors will encourage kids to chant along.