Written from a child’s perspective, the narrator is honest about the discrimination and the hardships her parents experience as they try to make ends meet and keep their family together. Pages are bordered by textile-like squares, creating the impression that the book itself is a quilt. In Tar Beach, also the name of one of her quilts, a young girl recounts her life with her family in New York City.Ĭolourful oil paint and collage illustrations show how quilting is a traditional way of storytelling, with each quilt square representing part of the story. This visually vibrant book is based on the artwork of Faith Ringgold, who created a series of painted quilts telling about her life and the struggles and history of the African American community. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Keeping Quilt, I Have a Dream Mots-clésįantasy, Picture book, African Americans, civil rights, flight, imagination, New York City, poverty, quilting Each panel can include text, images and patterned blocks. List the fictional and biographical elements in a T-chart.īased on the story quilt presented at the end, create a class quilt. Read the endnote to get a sense of the author’s childhood growing up in Harlem, NY, in the 1930s. What dreams do you have? What challenges will you need to overcome? How would Cassie’s life be similar and different today? Why does Cassie dream of being free to go wherever she wishes? Research reasons why some people could not do what they wanted to do. How do the endnotes help you understand the story differently? Look back at your story map and adjust it accordingly, showing your new understanding.ĭiscuss how we know when the story takes place (1939).

Identify what is realistic and what is imaginary. Incorporate panels with text, images and patterned blocks.ĭo a picture walk and discuss what you think the story will be about.Ĭreate a story map. Research story quilts made by the author and create a class story quilt made from paper. Write a story telling what you would do if you had a dream like Cassie’s. How do Cassie’s dreams reflect details of the life of African-Americans in 1939? What injustices do Cassie and her family face? What has changed since then? Which elements of the artwork are painted? Quilted? As you read the endnote, identify which elements are biographical and which are fictional.

Tarbeach