ABC’s for young and old

ASHLEY BRYAN’S ABC OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY by Ashley Bryan, Simon & Schuster, 32 pages, $16.

Do you have a child or grandchild who is learning the alphabet? Will you take charge of a lively kindergarten or first-grade class in September? Would you like an alphabet book that goes beyond the predictable “A is for apple. B is for ball. C is for cat”? How about an alphabet book that:

Combines great poetry with vivid and evocative paintings;

Combines insight into African American history, literature and spirituality with words and pictures that transcend race to capture universal aspects of the human experience;

Appeals to listeners and readers of all ages;

“Grows” with a child providing fresh insights and experiences at different life stages;

Serves as the springboard for listening, reading, writing and art projects?

If this sounds inviting, “Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African American Poetry” would be a wise investment.

Bryan faced special challenges when he decided to introduce the rich world of African American poetry to young children in the form of an alphabet book. Traditional formats such as using the first letter in each poem or the first letter in each poet’s name proved impossible for him. Also, many of the poems were so long that printing them would leave too little room for illustration (not to mention exceed the attention span of many young children). Finally he decided to choose portions of the poems that inspired imagery, capitalizing the letter wherever it occurred in a line. An acknowledgements page in the back guides people who are intrigued by glimpses into the work of particular poets and want to read more.

“Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African Amercian Poetry” presents an excellent introduction to this rich literature because it combines distinctiveness with the comfortable familiarity that allows young children to go beyond — but not too frighteningly beyond — their worlds of experience. Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman are introduced. Kojo explains that his name means “unconquerable” and describes the tradition by which he was named. Meanwhile the images of a young girl dancing joyfully in a shower of falling leaves and a father lovingly cradling a sleeping child echo nearly universal childhood experiences.

The profound is nicely interpersed with the whimsical. A lonely God sets out to make a world. A young man tells us that freedom sings on his heart strings. An elephant asks Noah not to give him a mouse for a roommate. A playful cat bats at the bubbles from a boy’s bath.

If this taste of African American literature whets your family’s taste for more, a public library can offer up a feast. The poetrylike rhythm of African folk tales makes them marvelous read-alouds. Bryan himself masterfully retells and illustrates some of these ancient legends. “The Story of Thunder and Lightning” gives a mythical origin to these powerful forces of nature. Biographies and autobiographies make famous and less well-known African Americans come to life. Many children’s fiction books help personalize the evils of slavery, segregation, and prejudice and the struggles of African Americans to overcome them. Libraries with limited collections may obtain volumes from larger libraries through interlibrary loans.

Do you remember the excitement you felt as an adolescent when a poem or song resonated with your life experience? A young person finding out just who he or she is can adapt Bryan’s format to make a personal statement most parents will appreciate far more than a purple mohawk. Poetry, music, prose, materials found in a book or self-written, sketches, water color, collage — the possible modes of expression within this framework are numerous.

In a similar vein, a family could create a unique alphabet book while exploring its values, interests and family history. Such a volume would become a priceless heirloom. For younger family members it would provide a rich and fascinating introduction to literacy.

On a larger scale a middle school class could explore what is special and unique about its community or a church youth group could find the words and pictures that express the history and beliefs of its denomination. Putting this material in big book form and presenting it to a younger class would benefit both creators and recipients.

Bryan, who grew up in a tough neighborhood of New York City, now lives on Little Cranberry Island in Maine. He turns 75 on July 13.