Tar Beach

Illus. in full color. “Ringgold recounts the dream adventure ofeight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, who flies above her apartment-buildingrooftop, the ‘tar beach’ of the title, looking down on 1939 Harlem. Partautobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolicand historical references central to African-American culture. The spectacularartwork resonates with color and texture. Children will delight in theuniversal dream of mastering one’s world by flying over it. A practical andstunningly beautiful book.”–(starred) “Horn Book.”