We Came To America - Hardcover

Ringgold, Faith

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0517709473 ISBN 13: 9780517709474

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

A timely and beautiful look at America’s rich history of immigration and diversity, from Faith Ringgold, the Coretta Scott King and Caldecot Honor winning creator of Tar Beach
 
From the Native Americans who first called this land their home, to the millions of people who have flocked to its shores ever since, America is a country rich in diversity. Some of our ancestors were driven by dreams and hope. Others came in chains, or were escaping poverty or persecution. No matter what brought them here, each person embodied a unique gift—their art and music, their determination and grit, their stories and their culture. And together they forever shaped the country we all call home. Vividly expressed in Faith Ringgold’s sumptuous colors and patterns, We Came to America is an ode to every American who came before us, and a tribute to each child who will carry its proud message of diversity into our nation’s future.
 
PRAISE FOR WE CAME TO AMERICA:

**A 2017 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People** 

“As Americans wrestle with the moral and legal aspects of immigration, Ringgold offers a reminder of the country’s multifaceted lineage—and of the beauty to be discovered at cultural crossroads.... The simplicity of Ringgold’s text, combined with the captivating designs, makes this a compelling, must-have narrative for a wide audience.”     
      –School Library Journal, starred review
 
 
“Using a broad brush and folk style familiar from her story quilts, Ringgold pictures families of diverse heritage... her powerful voice emphasizes unity and mutual appreciation.”                –Publishers Weekly
 
“[A] timely look at the diverse makeup and backgrounds of the American people.”    –Booklist
 

About this title

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 pained story quilts, some of which hang in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Tar Beach, Ringgold’s first book for children, won the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration and was named a Caldecott honor Book. Her other award-winning books include Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky and Harlem Renaissance Party.
Learn more about Faith at faithringgold.com

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 3—As Americans wrestle with the moral and legal aspects of immigration, Ringgold offers a reminder of the country's multifaceted lineage—and of the beauty to be discovered at cultural crossroads. The artist has repurposed a title she applied in 1997 to a story quilt; it featured a revolt on a slave ship whose beacon was a black Statue of Liberty. Here she broadens her scope. After she acknowledges that "some of us were already here" and "some of us were brought in chains," her free verse unfolds with a line or two on each page touching on reasons for immigration and the solace and joy found in sharing "our food, our fashion, and our art...." A refrain emphasizing the country's ethnic and religious plurality punctuates the occasionally rhyming stanzas. The poem is paired with tableaux of families from various time periods and places, as if their portraits were captured the moment they stepped on American soil. Vibrant paint on canvas provides a changing, high contrast backdrop for the parade of patterns and styles, from the bold geometrics of African cloth and the pinstriped suits and fedoras of Europe to the decorative tunics and elaborate headdresses of Eastern communities. A final scene depicting a gathering of diverse children concludes that despite differences, "we are ALL Americans,/Just the same." While the message is a time-honored one, it clearly needs to be foregrounded. VERDICT The simplicity of Ringgold's text, combined with the captivating designs, makes this a compelling, must-have narrative for a wide audience.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0517709473
• ISBN 13: 9780517709474
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32