If you're looking for inspiration for your quilt making, this is the book. It's like taking a walk through a museum of history and culture. Filled with color photos.

I received this wonderful book from my son,(via an Amazon gift certificate) for Mother's Day. It is very meaningful because I've had the pleasure of meeting and viewing the works of several of the featured artists including the author. The women are as warm and vibrant as their creations and willing to share their God-given talent with emerging quilters like myself. The colors in this book leap off the pages and wrap themselves around you , just as the original quilts were meant to do. I agree with another reviewer; even if I didn't know which end of the needle to thread this will be a most cherished gift. I am extremely & excitedly inspired.

The book is displayed proudly in my home. I read the book and enjoyed the narratives on each chapter and the comments of each artist. I was very pleased to see the different "twists" and "spins" of each artists work. Looking at the pictures, you can almost touch the colors, textures and the spirit of the work. I've been to several art shows in which some of the featured artists work were on display. I had the opportunity to attend a quilt show in Huntsville AL to hear Yvonne Wells talk about her work and I was extremely pleased that the works of quilt artists are being highlighted in one woman/man shows. The book was long overdue!!!!! Thank you to the artist C. Mazloomi!!!

"Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar" combines several poems from this beloved African-American poet with illustrations from several different artists: Ashley Bryan, Faith Ringgold, and more. Dunbar (1872-1906) was an expert at writing poems in both a formal "literary" English and in a style that evoked African-American vernacular speech (this second type of poem was known as a "dialect" poem). This book includes excellent examples of both modes. A sample from a "dialect" poem: "Fiddlin' man jes' stop his fiddlin', / Lay his fiddle on de she'f."

I liked how several different visual artists contributed to this book; this gives the book a nice sense of variety. My favorite illustrations include Jerry Pinkney's pictures, which are vibrant with color and energy, and Carole Byard's delicate picture that accompanies "The Sparrow."

These are poems about nature, African-American culture, and the joys of love and family life. This book is an excellent choice for a multicultural children's book collection.

A versatile group of illustrators add flair to Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry. Faith Ringgold's portrait of Frederick Douglass gives additional power to "Douglass". Jerry Pinkney's illustrations capture the playfulness and sass of "A Negro Love Song"; and "The Colored Band". Both Carole Byard's and Jan Spivey Gilchrist's illustrations add contemporary color and meaning to this anthology. The notes list brief biographical information on Dunbar and some background data on the title of this book. Some facts about the illustrators are also included in this collection of poems. This book can be used for school and church performances and plays.

I found this at a booksale for 99 cents! (Sorry Amazon!) Faith Ringgold is about even more than Tar Beach. I found it a real inspiration for my niece, who is also artistically inclined. She remarked on the wide array of media Ms. Ringgold works with, and the 'journey' that brought her to children's books. I guess I should have suggested that SHE write this review...

into the world and life of artist Faith Ringgold. A must-have for lovers of Tar Beach.

I have purchased many, many books for my 17 month old daughter. Since she was less than a year old this book has consistently been one of her favorites. Without fail, she will pick it for me to read day after day. I love the beautiful, bright, colorful illustrations. I highly recommend it! I am definitely a Faith Ringgold fan.

"Cassie's Word Quilt," by Faith Ringgold, uses words and pictures to take us into the world of Cassie, an urban African-American girl who "dreams she can fly among the stars." We visit Tar Beach (the rooftop sundeck), Cassie's apartment, the neighborhood park, and her multiethnic classroom. Along the way, many items are pictured and labeled: dog, radio, lamp, teacup, sofa, flowers, etc. "Cassie's Word Quilt" thus has educational value for newer readers. Ringgold's artwork is colorful and fun.

I am an Elementary School Librarian and I LOVE this calendar! It has great illustrations from many well-loved children's books. I also like that it notes the birthdays of authors and illustrators. This calendar is a great resource for librarians and teachers. Also, it's a lot of fun with bright and beautiful illustrations for anyone! The calendar grid is also a nice size with plenty of room to note appointments or whatever.

In "Faith Ringgold," author Robyn Montana Turner has assembled a superb introduction to the artist for whom the book is named. Turner combines a well-written biography of Ringgold with a wealth of photographs from all phases of the artist's life, full-color reproductions of many of her classic creations, and other interesting materials.

An African-American artist who blends African, African-American, and European themes and techniques in her work, Ringgold is a fascinating multicultural creator. This book gives the reader a good sense of the journey she has taken towards her comprehensive artistic vision. It is fascinating, for example, to see a reproduction of da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" together with Ringgold's mixed-media portrayal of African-American children dancing in front of "Mona Lisa" at the Louvre museum in France. Turner's "Faith Ringgold" is a visually stunning book which just may inspire a few artists of the next generation.

a must read biography of one of the most important artists of the country. A book about a Black Woman Fine Artist telling her story is a rare find and unsurprisingly interesting, poignant, insightful, triumphant.

Students were very absorbed in this book. They found the story exciting and it stimulated a great discussion. The idea that someone could dream about Martin Luther King Jr. and see him as a child and then as an adult allowed students to think about how different dreams are from reality. Students were anxious to borrow the book and share it with their families.

This beautifully illustrated and well written book was a must have for my daughters library. She's a new teacher and a lover of good books. What a delight to buy this book for her!

This is the best picture book I've come across concerning the Civil Rights movement of the 60's. The previous reviewer is correct in that the abstractness of the imagery is difficult for younger children, but that is precisely the beauty of the book. With a little explaining, my third grade class was still touched by the struggle of African Americans in this country. My class consisted of numerous minorities (Asian & hispanic) and they were able to come to see that MLK was fighting for them also. The way it is told is very moving and makes the book excellent for older children as well.

I still get choked up whenever I read it.

'Tar Beach" by Faith Ringgold is a book that a child of any age could enjoy. Any child could relate to Cassie Louise Lightfoot. Every child has dreams and this book supports the need for children to escape into their own world of imagination. Ringgold is a talented author and illustrator. I feel that children can truly relate to her stories and paintings.

In Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach, eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot expresses her wishes and dreams. The story takes place in 1939 on the tarred flat roof of her family's Harlem apartment building where her family and friends gather in the warm summer night air. While Cassie enjoys and appreciates her family, her boundless imagination transcends debilitating socioeconomic boundaries and allows her to feel self-confident and capable of anything. Through both the inspirational text and illustrations, Ringgold urges that life's circumstances, no matter how hurtful, should not be taken at face value. Instead, one's attitude can overcome and triumph over anything.

Ringgold's depiction of an African American female greatly furthers the effectiveness of Tar Beach. Cassie is a strong young lady who will not rely on a prejudiced society to determine her future. Rather, she constantly creates her own ambitions, regardless of how radical or impractical they may seem. For instance, Cassie dreams of her father being rich, having a more respected job, and even owning The Union Building. The character of Cassie encourages limitless dreams, especially for young African American readers.

Cassie's model attitude is conveyed through her imagery-rich narrative that faces adversity head on. Her father is a blue-collar construction worker who must search for jobs in the winter. Society also excludes him from the privileges of union membership because he is "colored" and considered a "half-breed Indian." In addition, Cassie's family doesn't have much money.

Yet despite all this, Cassie says she feels "rich" from "lying on the roof in the night, with stars and skyscraper buildings all around [her]." She appreciates the surrounding beauty and fancifully talks of flying to those places she admires. She talks about the imaginative flights she takes, leaving the roof much like Peter Pan. This creative way that Cassie addresses her situations adds an unparalleled beauty to her life. For instance, she talks of flying over the George Washington Bridge and wearing it "like a giant diamond necklace." Ringgold uses Cassie's narrative to inspire by first explaining the potential beauty that can be experienced, and then explaining, "it's very easy, anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way."

To compliment the text, Ringgold created amazing illustrations using acrylic on canvas paper, which were designed to resemble a quilt. The creative and colorful illustrations further this idea of overcoming life's obstacles by beautifully depicting Cassie's flights over her home, surrounding skyscrapers, and the beloved bridge. Ringgold also uses a two-dimensional style to depict Cassie when she is flying. This adds a visual separation between real-life images and Cassie's surreal fantasies. Overall, the illustrations are bright and include many patterns and geometric shapes. These intricacies communicate the cheerful complexity of life.

By transcending reality, Cassie is able to rise above her problems and feel triumphant and empowered. Tar Beach is an appealing and creative work which offers hope and encourages the continual search for beauty and self-empowerment.

This short children's book is about a young African-American girl living in Harlem in the 1930s who dreams she is flying over the city when relaxing on the roof of her apartment building (the "tar beach"). It is a beautiful book about dreams and children should enjoy it. The book was a 1992 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.