Thursday, February 8, 2007
Tar Beach By Faith Ringhold
Tar Beach is Faith Ringhold's first book. It is the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award and was a Caldecott Honor Book. The first thing that captivates you about the book are the illustrations. The colors are so vibrant. The author is an artist and a quilt maker and the story was originally told on a quilt. The story is set in the 1930's and is about a little girl named Cassie who is growing up in Harlem. Tar Beach is the roof of an apartment building where her family gathers with friends to eat, play cards, and dream. Cassie's dream is too be free and the story shows Cassie flying through the city claiming it for herself and her family so that they may know what freedom truly is. The thing that is the most engaging about the book is the way the author breaks through traditional stereotypes with her characters and makes you feel as if it could be the story of any one of us. For after all don't we all long to be free!
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3 comments:
I know I've read this book before...I remember liking it and I can even conjure up images in my head of the quilt and the girl, but somehow the quilt in my mind is replaced by something my mother made. She always needs some kind of craft and took up quilting a few years ago. It's so funny how stories and illustrations all get put together in your imagination!
I love the unique integration of the painted illustrations and quilting in Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach. This story is realistic, and the little girl shows that she is acutely aware of the struggles that her mother and father face. Being on "Tar Beach" on the rooftop gives her a stage to escape the drudgery of daily worries and enjoy the company of family and friends. Closing her eyes to soar above the repressive city to "look down" on it all is very symbolic. I personally enjoy any book which shows girls feeling empowered and independent!
I am almost positive I have this book in my classroom library, but sadly, I have never read it myself. I will surely have to check it out, especially those illustrations you bragged about! I enjoyed your description of her apartment roof, and her pursuit of freedom. As I read your comment, I was reminded of Eve Bunting's "Books that Heal" interview in which she discusses the book Fly Away Home. I don't know if Bunting's book, Fly Away Home, would be appropiate for our classrooms, but I think your selection of Tar Beach would be most appropiate to discuss the desire to be free. I agree, we all want to be free!
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