Welcome to the
EDUCATOR’S TOOLKIT
It is essential that we celebrate Black books and Black children’s book creators in our classrooms, libraries, and homes. Dr. Krista Aronson of the Diverse Bookfinder outlines why in her video Black Books Matter. Below you will find ways to engage with the books in this year’s Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival. We hope these tools find their way into your exploration of African diaspora experience.
ASHLEY BRYAN’S ABCs OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY
Lesson Plans
Ashley Bryan’s ABCs of African American Poetry
Source: TeachingBooks.net
STEAM—for the ARTS—Poetry,
Storytelling, Song, and a Celebration of Our Shared
Humanity: The Creations of Ashley Bryan
Source: Simon & Schuster
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Dance Activity:
ABC Poem Dance with Veeva Banga
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Writing Activity: The ABC’s of Your Poetry
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Resources: Read, Watch, Listen
Source: Ashley Bryan Center
JOSEPH’S BIG RIDE
Classroom Resources
Lesson Plan: Joseph’s Big Ride
Source: TeachingBooks.net
Resources: Joseph’s Big Ride
Source: I’m Your Neighbor Books
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Craft Activity:
Creating a Big Ride with Aminata Conteh
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Movement Activity:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art Activity:
Friendships and Bicycles
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
SO TALL WITHIN: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk Toward Freedom
Lesson Plans
So Tall Within
Source: TeachingBooks.net
Sojourner Truth and Equal Rights
Source: Simon & Schuster
So Tall Within
Source: Sojourner Truth Memorial
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art Activity:
Painting a Journey of Light and Truth
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
CROWN: Ode to the Fresh Cut
Lesson Plans
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Source: Classroom Bookshelf
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Source: TeachingBooks.net
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Source: Responsive Reads
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art Activity:
Shaping Your Own Crown
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Movement Activity:
A Statue of You
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY
Classroom Resources
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Source: TeachingBooks.net
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Source: Disney Hyperion / Educators
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Source: Disney Hyperion / Activity
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Writing Activity:
Creating Characters
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
THE RED PENCIL
Classroom Resources
Lesson Plan: The Red Pencil
Source: TeachingBooks.net
Lesson Plan: The Red Pencil
Source: TeachingBooks.net
Lesson Plan: The Red Pencil
Source: Classroom Bookshelf
Resources: The Red Pencil
Source: I’m Your Neighbor Books
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Writing Activity:
Object Writing: The Poetry of Things
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
YOUR NAME IS A SONG
Classroom Resources
Hearing the Melodies of
Classmates with Your Name is a Song
Source: Classroom Bookshelf
Lesson Plan
Source: Read Across America
Lesson Plan & Family Discussion Guide
Source: The Innovation Press
Name Pronunciation Guide
Source: Anti-Defamation League
Resources: Your Name is a Song
Source: I’m Your Neighbor Books
Read Aloud:
Performance by the Community
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art & Movement Activity:
Dance Your Name
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
+ Alliance Theatre
Art & Movement Activity:
Sing Your Name
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
+ Alliance Theatre
2020 EDUCATOR’S TOOLKIT
BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD
Lesson Plans
STEAM for the Arts: Poetry, Storytelling, Song, and a
Celebration of Our Shared Humanity: The Creations of Ashley Bryan
Source: Simon & Schuster
Lesson Plan: Story Map
Source: Teaching Books
Lesson Plan & School Wide Celebration
Source: Coretta Scott King Book Award Blog
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Dance Activity: Show Claw Slide
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art Project: Bird Claws & Bird Puppers
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Short Film & ELA Visual Art Guides
Source: Kane Lewis Productions
GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY
Lesson Plans
Cross Curriculum
Source: Peachtree Publishing
Discussion Questions
Source: Peachtree Publishing
Story Map
Source: TeachingBooks
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art Project: Mighty Family Tree
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Arts Integrations Activity: Recipe for Me!
Source: Portland Ovations
AUNTIE LUCE’S TALKING PAINTING
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
OVERGROUND RAILROAD
Classroom Resources
Lesson Plan: Story Map
Source: TeachingBooks
Educator Ideas: Take a Ride Through History
Source: BookPage
Discussion Guide
Source: Holiday House Books
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
SING A SONG
Classroom Resources
Lesson Plans
Source: Kelly Starling Lyons
Activity Guide
Source: Kelly Starling Lyons
Author Audio Interview
Source: TeachingBooks
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Video: Celebrate the Legacy of Lift Every Voice & Sing
Source: Kelly Starling Lyons
WHEREVER I GO
Classroom Resources
Educator Guide
Source: I’m Your Neighbor Books
Arts Integration Activity: Everybody Do!
Source: Portland Ovations
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Art Project: Woven Crown
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED
Read Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Video: Introduction to the Graphic Novel
Source: Penguin Random House
Arts Integration Activity:
Source: Portland Ovations
MAGNIFICENT HOMESPUN BROWN
Read Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
LITTLE BIRD’S FLOCK
Creator Read Aloud & Interview:
Source: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD BOOK COLLECTION
Classroom Resources
Arts Integration Activities
Source: Portland Ovations