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Tar Beach
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Tar Beach Hardcover - 1991

by Faith Ringgold

Cassie Lightfoot, a black girl growing up in Harlem in the 1930s, has a dream--to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on "Tar Beach"--the rooftop of her family's apartment building--her dream comes true. The stars lift her up, and she flies over the city, claiming everything she sees as her own. Full-color illustrations.


From the publisher

CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD WINNER - CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK - A NEW YORK TIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

Acclaimed artist Faith Ringgold seamless weaves fiction, autobiography, and African American history into a magical story that resonates with the universal wish for freedom, and will be cherished for generations. Cassie Louise Lightfoot has a dream: to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on "tar beach," the rooftop of her family's Harlem apartment building, her dreams come true. The stars lift her up, and she flies over the city, claiming the buildings and the city as her own. As Cassie learns, anyone can fly. "All you need is somewhere to go you can't get to any other way. The next thing you know, you're flying among the stars."

From the jacket flap

Illus. in full color. "Ringgold recounts the dream adventure of eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, who flies above her apartment-building rooftop, the 'tar beach' of the title, looking down on 1939 Harlem. Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture. The spectacular artwork resonates with color and texture. Children will delight in the universal dream of mastering one's world by flying over it. A practical and stunningly beautiful book."--(starred) "Horn Book.

Details

  • Title Tar Beach
  • Author Faith Ringgold
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition 1st
  • Pages 32
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, New York
  • Date 1991-01-16
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780517580301 / 0517580306
  • Weight 1.2 lbs (0.54 kg)
  • Dimensions 12.2 x 9.5 x 0.6 in (30.99 x 24.13 x 1.52 cm)
  • Ages 05 to 08 years
  • Grade levels K - 3
  • Reading level 660
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Mid-Atlantic
    • Cultural Region: Northeast U.S.
    • Ethnic Orientation: African American
    • Ethnic Orientation: Multicultural
    • Geographic Orientation: New York
    • Topical: Family
    • Topical: Self-Esteem
  • Library of Congress subjects African Americans, Harlem (New York, N.Y.)
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 90040410
  • Dewey Decimal Code E

Media reviews

Citations

  • ALA Best Books Young Adults, 01/01/1992, Page 1367
  • Booklist, 02/01/1992, Page 1037
  • Booklist Ed Choice Youth, 01/01/1992, Page 875
  • Hornbook Guide to Children, 01/01/1991, Page 0
  • Publishers Weekly, 12/07/1990, Page 0
  • School Library Journal, 02/01/1991, Page 0

About the author

Faith Ringgold was born in Harlem in 1930. She received a degree in art education from the City College of New York and was an art teacher long before she became a professional artist. She is best known for her painted story quilts, some of which hang in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Tar Beach, Ringgold's first book for children, won the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration and was named a Caldecott honor Book. Her other picture books include Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky, My Dream of Martin Luther King, Cassie's Word Quilt, and We Came to America. Learn more about Faith at faithringgold.com
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Tar Beach

Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
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Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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Random House Children's Books, 1991. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Tar Beach

Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
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Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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Random House Children's Books, 1991. Hardcover. Acceptable. Disclaimer:Former library book; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Tar Beach
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Tar Beach

by Ringgold, Faith

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ISBN 13
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ISBN 10
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Tar Beach
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Tar Beach

by Ringgold, Faith

  • Used
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ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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Random House Children's Books. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
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Tar Beach (Caldecott Honor Book)
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Tar Beach (Caldecott Honor Book)

by Faith Ringgold

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  • Hardcover
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Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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Crown Books for Young Readers, 1991-01-16. Hardcover. Used: Good.
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Tar Beach
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Tar Beach

by Ringgold, Faith

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Hardcover
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Used - Near Fine
Edition
2nd ptg
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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New York: Crown Pub, 1991. 2nd ptg . Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. NOT ex-library. Outsized glossy pictorial bds, unchipped lightly soiled matching dust jacket. No names, clean text. Unpaginated. 34000 PB shelf
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Tar Beach (Caldecott Honor Book)
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Tar Beach (Caldecott Honor Book)

by Ringgold, Faith

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  • Hardcover
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Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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U.S.A.: Crown Books for Young Readers, 1991. Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Hardback story/picture book is quite clean and in very good condition. Dust jacket has a silver Caldecott seal on front and is in good to very good condition. NOT AN EX-LIB!. Hard Cover. Very Good/Good to Very Good.
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Tar Beach
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Tar Beach

by Ringgold, Faith

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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New York, New York, U.S.A.: Crown Pub, 1991. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. 4th printing..
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Tar Beach
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Tar Beach

by Ringgold, Faith

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young, 1/16/1991. Hardcover. Used - Good. Used - good condition. For mass produced books with multiple editions the book on hand may not be edition listed. Please reach out with any questions about condition or edition.
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Tar Beach (Caldecott Honor Book)
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Tar Beach (Caldecott Honor Book)

by Ringgold, Faith

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Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780517580301
ISBN 10
0517580306
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