Ashley Bryan (1) (1923–2022)

Freedom over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan. Ashley found actual slave papers from the sale of a plantation home that listed names, ages and the price of African people sold as slaves, as part of the property. He uses this information to imagine and tell their stories, each one of them. He creates and paints colorful images of where they lived in Africa, their family, what it was like the day they were stollen and life on the plantation. Their personalities and their relationships all come to life as Ashley imagines the lives slaves once had, and currently live, along with their strengths, talents and dreams. All beautifully illustrated in this historical picture book of love and loss and perhaps a new perspective. Ashley Bryan is a three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner.… (més)

Ashley Bryan’s Puppets, by Ashley Bryan and photographs edited by Rich Entel. This book showcases the amazing collection of puppets Ashley Bryan began making out of found objects, naming with glorious African names and creating poems for since the 1950’s. Ashley wonders the sea shore off the coast of Main and makes puppets from “cast-off things.” Each puppet has name and meaning from an African country and each one expresses themselves with a poem. Using fishing nets as puppet gowns, Ashley’s puppets will delight students of all ages as each one bubbles over with creativity and personality. Each puppet has a story, a year it was born, a poem and an African name and origin, the history of which is chronicled in a glossary.… (més)

Blackbird is the most beautiful of the birds; and all other birds agree. They show it in song, marveling at Blackbird's beauty. Blackbird has the wonderful idea of adding some black designs to all the other birds... some stipes on the wings, the neck, the face... and that is why other birds have black on them; because of Blackbird.

I hadn't seen this folktale before; but I love that it isn't too wordy. The vibrant, abstract illustrations are engaging and emphasize the colors even more than detailed illustrations.… (més)