Tar Beach
Faith Ringgold Β· 1991
Age 5-6F&P L
π Caldecott Honor (1992)π Coretta Scott King Award (1991)π ALA Notable Children's Bookπ The Atlantic 65 Essential (2025)
View on Open Library βAbout This Book
Eight-year-old Cassie lies on the rooftop ('tar beach') of her Harlem apartment building and imagines flying over the George Washington Bridge, claiming everything she flies over for her family.
Why This Age
Caldecott Honor. The layers β imagination, race, labor unions, family dreams β unfold for 5-6 year olds who can hold multiple ideas.
How to Use
- Look at the quilt-border illustrations (based on Ringgold's actual story quilts)
- Discuss: 'If you could fly over something and own it, what would you choose?'
- Talk about dreams and what it means to 'claim' something