Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry

Title: Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry
Author/Illustrator: Ashley Bryan 
Genre: Poetry
Awards: Coretta Scott King Author Honor (1998)
Grade Level: PK - 3

The primary purpose of the book is not to be an alphabet book but to introduce the work of various African American poets. It includes 25 poems/excerpts and an African American spiritual. Some of the subjects of the poems are about slavey, nature, and family life. Emphasis is put on the large, colorful tempera and gouache paintings that are inspired by the poems used and the author of the poems. I would use this book in my classroom to introduce a culturally different kind of poetry. Students could research the various poets that were selected for the book and explore the poets' other works.  

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