by Faith Ringgold
Ringgold, F. (1991). Tar beach. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.
While sleeping on Tar Beach, eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot dreams of being able to fly. She soars over her apartment building rooftop and sees her family and neighbors below. As she floats over the George Washington Bridge, union building, and ice cream factory, she claims them as her own and imagines what a difference this will make in her life and that of her family.
When I looked at the cover and title of this book, I guessed that it was going to be about a family's happy experiences on the tar-covered top of an urban apartment building. Although my conjecture was correct, this fantasy picture book contains so much more. It touches on bi-racial prejudices, a time in history when a worker was not allowed to join the union because his father was not a member, urban life, and the desire for freedom. It is a unique and rich story. As a bonus, at the end, I found out that the book is based on a story quilt created by the author, Faith Ringgold, which is currently on display in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
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Author, Faith Ringgold's website: http://www.faithringgold.com/
Tar Beach quilt: http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/d06.htm
Tar Beach 2 quilt: http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/d09.htm
Book trailer:
While sleeping on Tar Beach, eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot dreams of being able to fly. She soars over her apartment building rooftop and sees her family and neighbors below. As she floats over the George Washington Bridge, union building, and ice cream factory, she claims them as her own and imagines what a difference this will make in her life and that of her family.
When I looked at the cover and title of this book, I guessed that it was going to be about a family's happy experiences on the tar-covered top of an urban apartment building. Although my conjecture was correct, this fantasy picture book contains so much more. It touches on bi-racial prejudices, a time in history when a worker was not allowed to join the union because his father was not a member, urban life, and the desire for freedom. It is a unique and rich story. As a bonus, at the end, I found out that the book is based on a story quilt created by the author, Faith Ringgold, which is currently on display in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮
Author, Faith Ringgold's website: http://www.faithringgold.com/
Tar Beach quilt: http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/d06.htm
Tar Beach 2 quilt: http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/d09.htm
Book trailer:
