Artist and Author Faith Ringgold

by Calease

Did you know a quilt can tell you a story? Faith Ringgold is famous for telling stories with quilts.  She uses her quilts to make the pictures for kids to see when they read her books.  She was born in Harlem, New York in 1930.  She grew up poor but her family never went hungry.  Her mother taught her to sew, love fabrics, and she even took her to museums.  That's what inspired her to be an artist.  Now my author writes books that are about African American history.  She decided to write books when a publisher told her that her story quilts would make good picture books.  She has written 12 picture books.  Her most famous book is Tar beach.  Some of her other books are Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky and Dinner at Aunt Connie's House.  My favorite book by Faith Ringgold is Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky because it is fun to read.  This author is special because she writes alot of books that give important information about the lives of African Americans.  Faith Ringgold says of her story Tar beach, ....on the roof you could see everything.  The whole world was open to you."  Open up your world and read a Faith Ringgold book.

Resources and Links

http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/bio.htm - author bio and photo