DAYS OF THE BLACKBIRD

BIBLIOGRAPHY
dePaola, Tomie. DAYS OF THE BLACKBIRD. 1997. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
ISBN 9780590686945

PLOT SUMMARY
Tomie dePaola retells an Italian folk tale of a father and his devoted daughter. During the three coldest days of the year in January, doves would warm themselves in the chimney tops. When finally emerging they were no longer white, but permanently black from the soot of the chimney. dePaola uses this explanation to weave his tale by adding a devoted daughter caring for her father and the song of the bird (La Columba) who makes him well.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Many folk tales have their roots in coming up with ways to explain things they couldn't understand. The stories are basically the same in plot but may vary in location and cultural surroundings. Many of Tomie dePaola's books are set in Italy, the country of his ancestors. We don't need to be Italian to appreciate this story. In it dePaola embellishes a folk tale by adding human characters. Most could relate to a devoted daughter caring for her sick father, willing to do whatever it took to make him well.

The illustrations dePaola has created are rich in detail. Italian art is very detailed and even though his scenes are simple, bold color fills each page with attention to detail. The illustrations are flat and without shading but the detail makes the reader examine each picture before turning the page.

Throughout the story dePaola introduces the reader to several Italian words. Il concerto - the concert, carissimi - dear ones, restate vi prego - please stay, la merla - a blackbird are some of the phrases interspersed throughout the story to draw us into this Italian tale. Even the father and daughter's names are Italian - Duca Gennaro and Gemma. When this story is finished, the reader has travelled to Italy and back without leaving the comfort of his chair.

PERSONAL OPINION
Tomie dePaola is one of my favorite authors/illustrator. His stories are always fairly simple and the illustrations mirror the story he is telling on the page. dPaola's stories can be for the very young or young at heart.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly
"DePaola spins the tale with panache, imbuing it with a folktale-like timelessness, and artistically it's clear he was delighted to return once again to his beloved Italy for visual cues. The pages radiate warmth, from the picturesque late medieval setting and the terra cotta or blue-green houses with their tiled roofs, to the jewel-colored birds and flowers of the duke's garden."

From School Library Journal
"The moving story is elegantly, yet simply, told. The artist combines his recognizable style with visual elements reminiscent of Italian frescoes. Watercolor background washes create a marbleized effect. Color choices portray the warmth and serenity the story suggests. A successful and satisfying union of narration and illustration."

READERS MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

dePaola, Tomie. STREGA NONA'S MAGIC LESSONS. ISBN 9780152817862

dePaola, Tomie. PASCAL AND THE KITCHEN ANGELS. ISBN 0399242147

Schroedel, Jenny. THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST: SAINT KEVIN OF IRELAND.
ISBN 9780881412581