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A video interview with

Ashley Bryan

Ashley Bryan is an eclectic artist who uses painting, poetry, music, collage, and prose to tell stories. Bryan fuses these seemingly separate art forms within his books for children. "I try not to accept walls and boundaries and definitions in a strict way," he says. "I would hope that everything I do is interrelated."

Bryan is known for retelling African folktales in a distinct, rhythmic prose that is heavily influenced by African-American poetry. In 1981 his collection of Nigerian folktales, Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum, received the Coretta Scott King Book Illustrator Award.

Click on the links below‡ to watch this interview online. You can also read the interview transcript or a short biography of Ashley Bryan, or see a selected list of his children's books.

View online

Books as gifts (1:05)
In this video clip, Ashley Bryan recalls making the first of his many books.
A homemade library (0:34)
Even though they couldn't afford to buy books, Ashley and his siblings found a way to build a home library.
A part of being human (0:55)
Ashley Bryan discusses the role of art in our schools and in our society.
Color barriers (1:53)
Despite the overt racism of the times, Ashley Bryan found a way to earn a scholarship to art school.
Hearing the voice (2:28)
In this clip, Bryan discusses the virtues of reading and the importance of truly listening to the printed word.
Retelling folktales (2:31)
Bryan reflects on how children's books have become more multicultural since the 1960s.
The all-white world of children's books (1:48)
Bryan reflects on how children's books have become more multicultural since the 1960s.
Let It Shine (2:21)
Bryan explains that popular American folk songs like "When the Saints Go Marching In" were actually spirituals that slaves used to sing.
Hen and frog come to life! (3:24)
Don't miss this chance to see Ashley Bryan's storytelling in action.

‡ This video clip will appear in Windows Media Player, which most computers already have installed, or you can download it now. Macintosh users can download the free Flip4Mac playback file, which allows you to play Windows Media files in your Quicktime player.

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