Ashley Bryan Story Time Challenge

  • Ashley Bryan, [Untitled Collage from Beautiful Blackbird], n.d., paper collage, 19 5/8 x 28 1/8 in. (framed), Bates College Museum of Art, gift of Henry Isaacs and Donna Bartnoff Isaacs, 2019.2.3
  • Beautiful Blackbird, By Ashley Bryan, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan, 2003, Atheneum Books for Young Readers
  • Ashley Bryan, The Night Has Ears, Massai, African Proverbs, (Cover/Left Page), n.d., watercolor and tempera on paper, 18 3/4 x 15 in. (framed), Bates College Museum of Art, gift of Henry Isaacs and Donna Bartnoff Isaacs, 2020.2.5
We challenge you!

Ashley Bryan’s award-winning books have been captivating children for decades. We invite you to join us in celebrating Ashley Bryan by sharing a video of reading one of his children’s stories. Is there a child in your home who would like to read a Bryan book, or an adult who would like to read to children? Record and send it to us!  We will share select submissions through our website and social media platforms. Submissions should include showing the cover of the book and the reader introducing the book.  The museum would like to thank the Ashley Bryan Foundation for their permission for this program.

To submit your video, send a link to your viewable video to museum@bates.edu with “Challenge” in the subject line. The museum will share select submissions online.

When recording your video, please follow these steps:

  1. Shoot horizontal, not vertical
  2. Light yourself well, but don’t back-light
  3. Keep ambient sound to a minimum
  4. Speak clearly, and introduce yourself: “I’m [your name (students, please include your year) (faculty & staff, please include your title)] and this is my Ashley Bryan Storytime Challenge video.”

This program is supported by the Ashley Bryan Foundation.

Your Videos

Annaliese Jakimides, Poet and Writer, responds to our Ashley Bryan Story Time Challenge

Charlotte Agell, Gifted & Talented Instructional Support and Civil Rights Team Advisor at Yarmouth Schools, and Author, responds to our Ashley Bryan Story Time Challenge

Carl Little, Poet and Art Writer, responds to our Ashley Bryan Story Time Challenge

 Janet Mills, Governor, responds to our Ashley Bryan Story Time Challenge

Image captions, left to right:
Ashley Bryan, [Untitled Collage from Beautiful Blackbird], n.d., paper collage, 19 5/8 x 28 1/8 in. (framed), Bates College Museum of Art, gift of Henry Isaacs and Donna Bartnoff Isaacs, 2019.2.3

Beautiful Blackbird, By Ashley Bryan, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan, 2003, Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Ashley Bryan, The Night Has Ears, Massai, African Proverbs, (Cover/Left Page), n.d., watercolor and tempera on paper, 18 3/4 x 15 in. (framed), Bates College Museum of Art, gift of Henry Isaacs and Donna Bartnoff Isaacs, 2020.2.5