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Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 1991 · Est. 4 min read-aloud
Tar Beach
Written by Faith Ringgold
A young girl dreams of freedom and discovers the magic of flight over 1939 Harlem.
4.2/5 Goodreads · 9,248 ratings
32 pages· 517 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
$8.99Save 5%
Bookroo's summary
Cassie Louise Lightfoot, an eight-year-old girl in 1939 Harlem, dreams of freedom. One night on her rooftop, the 'tar beach,' her wish comes true as she soars above the city. As she flies, Cassie claims the world below, exploring the boundaries of her imagination and the history of her community. This enchanting tale blends dreams with reality, inviting readers to ponder: What if you could fly anywhere you desired? Cassie's journey is a celebration of hope, freedom, and the power of dreams.
From the publisher
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 Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture.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.
At a glance
- Format
- Pages
- 32
- Words
- 517
- Reading age
- 5–8
- Audience
- Picture
- Lexile
- AD790L
The author
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The fine print
Book details
Reading levels
- ATOS
- 3.4
- F&P level
- ~S
- AR points
- 0.5
- AR interest level
- LG
- AR quiz
- 6144
Publication
- Published
- December 3, 1996
- First published
- January 1, 1991
- Publisher
- Dragonfly Books
Edition
- Language
- English
- Type
- Picture Book
Identifiers
- ISBN
- 9780517885444
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Top contributors: The Goodfather · Literary Leslie