Tar beach, hardcover/faith ringgold

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Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture.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 ones world by flying over it.

A practical and stunningly beautiful book.

--(starred) Horn Book.