Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky [Paperback]

Faith Ringgold (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Illus. in full color. Cassie, who flew above New York in Tar Beach, soars into the sky once more. This time, she and her brother Be Be meet a train full of people, and Be Be joins them. But the train departs before Cassie can climb aboard. With Harriet Tubman as her guide, Cassie retraces the steps escaping slaves took on the real Underground Railroad and is finally reunited with her brother at the story's end.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Characters from Tar Beach once again fly-this time in a fantastical sky train run by Harriet Tubman that traces a route on the Underground Railroad. Ages 4-9.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2 Up-- Using the symbolic motif of flying as she did in Tar Beach (Crown, 1991), Ringgold reintroduces Cassie and Be Be Lightfoot, who soar above oceans that look like cups of tea and meet a ``ramshackled train in the sky'' whose conductor is Harriet Tubman. Aunt Harriet, as she is called, explains that the railroad in the sky retraces her route to freedom every 100 years. Meanwhile, Be Be jumps on board. Cassie, who misses the train, must follow, living the slave existence, always one step behind, hoping to rejoin her brother in Canada. What follows is a compelling journey in which the author masterfully integrates fantasy and historical fact in such a way that readers join Cassie in experiencing the fear and the mystery of such a trip. The spare but eloquent text conveys much information, and the artist's flat, primitive illustrations in acrylic on canvas paper lend power and symbolism to one of the most dramatic chapters in American history. Everywhere, Cassie finds clues leading her to Be Be. Everywhere, she receives whispered directions from Aunt Harriet that lead her forward. Everywhere, the threat of capture lurks in the background in the form of the sinister chalkwhite faces of bounty hunters. Although adults may have difficulty with literal interpretation, children with only basic background will recognize that the story is both fact and fantasy--history and allegory. With gripping immediacy, Ringgold puts readers in the story on the side of the victims, insuring, through powerful words and images, ``that we will never forget the cost of freedom.'' Groundbreaking! --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books; Dragonfly Books ed edition (December 12, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517885433
• ISBN-13: 978-0517885437
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.1 x 12 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Children's Books > History > United States > Black History
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > African-American
  • #19 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Multicultural Stories > African-American

More About the Author

Faith Ringgold was born in Harlem in 1930. She received a degree in art education from the City College of New York and was an art teacher long before she became a professional artist. She is best known for her 'painted story quilts,' some of which hang in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Tar Beach, RinggoldÕs first book for children, won the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration and was named a Caldecott Honor Book. Ringgold is now a professor of art at the University of California at San Diego. She lives in California and in New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Trip on the Underground Railroad....., August 18, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (Paperback)

"One day, my brother Be Be and I were flying among the stars, way way up, so far up the mountains looked like pieces of rock candy and the oceans like tiny cups of tea. We came across an old ramshackled train in the sky." So begins Cassie Louise Lightfoot's tale of meeting "conductor" Harriet Tubman and riding the underground railroad to Canada. Based on Harriet Tubman's account of a dream she had while very sick, of flying to freedom and enhanced with historical facts and imagination, Faith Ringgold has authored a superb story that transports youngsters back to the slave holding plantations of the south, over one hundred years ago, and then sends them on a terrifying, yet exhilarating journey to freedom. Her engaging poetic text, full of imagery and magic, is complemented by her bold, expressive, evocative illustrations and together, word and art bring this emotional story to life. With additional biographical notes and map, tracing the underground railroad routes, included to augment lessons and discussions, Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad In The Sky is a masterpiece youngsters 6-10 shouldn't miss and a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good story with great history, June 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (Paperback)

This book tells of two children and their advernture traveling the underground railroad to Canada to freedom. Aunt Harriet directs these two to each stop and the children meet many interesting people and see many new things. Though the children are seperated at the beginning, they keep in contact through notes left along the way. the children experience the feelings of what the slaves went through on their trip to freedom.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, March 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (Paperback)

This book is fantastic - its illustrations are haunting and lovely, and the story is magical and historical at the same time. Faith Ringgold's approach makes the history simpler for children to understand while not undermining the depth and horror of slavery in America. I highly recommend it to any parent.