2005 BORN TO READ Conference — Ashley Bryan

Books that sing by Ray Routhier

Maine Sunday Telegram, Sunday, May 1, 2005
© 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Ashley Bryan takes old spirituals sung by slaves, and old folk tales from African tribes, and turns them into children's books.

Bryan, 81, does a lot more, too. He illustrates books. He recites poetry, he paints, he travels the country talking to young people. And people who see him in person don't forget him.

Bryan's presentations feature him leading the crowd in old spirituals, and reciting his stories and poetry with bursts of enthusiasm and energy.

During his long career, the Bronx-born Bryan has written or illustrated some 35 children's books, most based on African folk tales or spirituals. He began his career as a painter, and was chairman of the art department at Dartmouth College from 1974 to 1988. Since 1988 he's lived year-round on Little Cranberry Island, off Mount Desert Island. Q: When did you start doing children's books? A: In kindergarten. The teacher had us make a book of ABCs and told us "You are the author and the illustrator and the publisher. You must also be the distributor, so take it home." I kept doing that because I loved it. I always drew to what I read. So much art in museums comes from artists reading books. Q: When you speak to children, you often sing spirituals and recite energetic poems. What sort of reaction do you get? A: I use a call and response technique to engage the audience, and no audience resists that. My aim is to show people there is a living voice in the printed word, so I use the devices of poetry in my prose - rhyming, alliteration. I tell the children to hear the voice in what they are reading, hear the voice and you will get the meaning. If you are worried about pronouncing everything perfectly, you might get no idea of the meaning.

Poetry is a performance art. Unfortunately, we don't have concerts (of poetry). It's like someone who says they love song and they have never heard a person sing a song. Q: Where do most of your children's book ideas come from? Do you write first, then illustrate? A: Essentially my black roots made me want to know about the different story patterns in Africa, so I research sources and find a document, translate it from the tribal language, and make a story out of it.

When I have worked out the story, I get a galley made of the 32- page picture book I'm working on and draw to that. I need to make sure the words go with the illustration on each page. Q: Where did the idea for your latest book, "Beautiful Blackbird," come from? A: That's (a folk tale) from Zambia, in southeastern Africa. The first lines are about all the colored birds getting together to see which is the most beautiful bird, and black bird is the most beautiful. The second line was the ringdove asking "Blackbird, would you color me black so that I'll be black like you?"

All I needed (to write the story) were those lines. There are so many stories where black is a lousy color, that's why I wanted to do this one. Q: What are the best and worst parts of living on Little Cranberry Island year-round? A: There are only the best parts. I was raised in New York City, but I've always known I was a country boy at heart. I used to go to the park and try to find a place where I could see no buildings, that was my game.

When I got a scholarship to Skowhegan (School of Painting and Sculpture) it was a tremendous revelation, that I could be working outdoors. And when we'd take trips to Acadia, I found (Little Cranberry Island).

I've been here year-round since 1988. It's an island of 80 year-round residents with a one-room schoolhouse and eight children. But there are always things going on. Q: What are you working on now? A: I'm working on (a book of) three spirituals: "When the Saints Go Marching In"; "This Little Light of Mine"; and "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands."

I've done five books of spirituals already, illustrating them. When I talk to children and ask them if they know any spirituals, not a hand get raised. But when I sing these, everyone knows them.

Blacks were forbidden to read (as slaves), but their minds were free and they created a body of song that is loved and sung throughout the world.

MEET THE AUTHOR: ASHLEY BRYAN
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday
WHERE: John Ford Theatre at Portland High School, 284 Cumberland Ave. Free.
WHAT: Bryan - a writer and illustrator of children's books who lives on Little Cranberry Island - will present an evening of poetry, African tales, and spirituals.
WHAT ELSE: The Maine Humanities Council, which is presenting Bryan's appearance, will also bring nationally known children's author Rosemary Wells to the theater at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 773-5051 or go online to www.mainehumanities.org

Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at rrouthier@pressherald.com.