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 ...
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reviews
Dec 11, 2011
Israel
rated it: 
(historical picture book)
This picture book connects children with the fantasy of being able to fly and history as they follow Cassie, her little brother Be Be and Harriey Tubman on the journey to learn about slavery, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Many times children can get bored with the idea of history but this book most certainly takes the boredom out of learning history! Cassie's little brother Be Be is curious about the train that they encounter during this flying jou More...
This picture book connects children with the fantasy of being able to fly and history as they follow Cassie, her little brother Be Be and Harriey Tubman on the journey to learn about slavery, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Many times children can get bored with the idea of history but this book most certainly takes the boredom out of learning history! Cassie's little brother Be Be is curious about the train that they encounter during this flying jou More...
Jul 19, 2010
Lindsay
rated it: 
This book is a great resource for teachers who are discussing Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Student readers will be able to get a glimpse into what it was like to travel under cover and constantly at risk. This book is especially useful since the story introduces the Underground Railroad and then the last few pages explain the real story of Harriet Tubman, further clarify what the Underground Railroad was, and provide a map showing the paths from south to north. The end even provi
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Sep 30, 2009
(NS) Lisa
rated it:
Cassie and Be Be are soaring among the stars far above the mountains and oceans when they come across an old ramshackled train in the sky. Be Be jumps aboard but Cassie is to late. What follows is a life changing expedition to Canada on the underground railroad with Aunt Harriet as the conductor guiding the children on a journey from slavery to freedom. Though the children are separated at the beginning of the trip they keep in contact with notes left along the way. The children are able to
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Mar 29, 2010
Terri
rated it: 
I was looking for a good story to introduce my daughter (6) to the ideas of slavery (they were taught on President's Day that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves! Yay! What a hero! But they were not taught what a slave was or who was enslaved). I guess this provided the opening, but overall, the book stunk. 1. The idea was to present the underground railroad as a dream that Harriet Tubman once had involving, yes, a flying railroad. That basically confused Isabel, who was clearly skeptical about t
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Nov 28, 2011
Katie
rated it:
Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky is a fictional story based on actual events that happened along the Underground Railroad. The book is full of white faces lurking in the background. The reader travels along the railroad in the same order a slave possibly would. First, they escape from a plantation through many of the save houses until they reach Canada where they are finally save and free.
The back of the book gives a small biography of Harriet Tubman. It tells of dr More...
The back of the book gives a small biography of Harriet Tubman. It tells of dr More...
Nov 06, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This is an interesting depiction of how Harriet Tubman helped the Underground Railroad through the story and illustration of Faith Ringgold. It is a dreamlike experience as the girl travels the dangerous route to freedom that her great great great grandparents took from slavery. Ringgold based the story off of the strange dreams Harriet Tubman had of flying to freedom while she was ill and near death. The use of actual stops or “stations” to meet the next conductor really gives the reader a c
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Jan 28, 2012
Paul
rated it:
The characters from Ringgold's TAR BEACH return to the skies, this time called by the spirit of Harriet Tubman who tells Cassie about The Underground Railroad. Cassie experiences the journey of the slave as she tries to get back to Be Be in Canada (who has hopped aboard a mystical train at the beginning of the book).
Super information about The Underground Railroad make this book a natural "ladder" into/within the discussion, but I wonder how many children would get lost in t More...
Super information about The Underground Railroad make this book a natural "ladder" into/within the discussion, but I wonder how many children would get lost in t More...
Oct 25, 2011
Tiffany
rated it:
This book was just "eh" for me.
I did like the illustrations. They were very similar to some of Faith Ringgold's other books. There were a lot of full bleed illustrations and made you feel like you were right there. Other illustrations were bordered, with the text either below or above them. The oil painting illustrations showed what was going on in the text. I didn't really think they added a whole lot to the story.
The story itself was ok. I did like that th More...
I did like the illustrations. They were very similar to some of Faith Ringgold's other books. There were a lot of full bleed illustrations and made you feel like you were right there. Other illustrations were bordered, with the text either below or above them. The oil painting illustrations showed what was going on in the text. I didn't really think they added a whole lot to the story.
The story itself was ok. I did like that th More...
Oct 23, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This is a colorful and enchanting story about Cassie and her baby brother Be Be who follow the Underground Railroad that their great-great-grandparents took to get to freedom. Be Be begins his journey on the Underground Railroad first and Cassie follows closely behind him. This story is about Cassie’s journey and the things that she encounters on her way to meet her brother. After the story is finished there is a section about the life of Harriet Tubman with facts and pictures about her life
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Sep 22, 2010
Kelsey
rated it: 
Age: Kindergarten to third grade
Media: Fabric
Style: expressionistic characters with impressionist backgrounds
Thoughts: This story contains much movement, avoids stereotypes, has an obvious climax and resolution, and matches the age audience it is intended towards. Even with these in mind, this book seems too rushed without much development of the protagonist. She is seen more as a plot device than a fully developed character. The static expressions on the characters' faces de More...
Media: Fabric
Style: expressionistic characters with impressionist backgrounds
Thoughts: This story contains much movement, avoids stereotypes, has an obvious climax and resolution, and matches the age audience it is intended towards. Even with these in mind, this book seems too rushed without much development of the protagonist. She is seen more as a plot device than a fully developed character. The static expressions on the characters' faces de More...
Oct 27, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
Ringgold does a wonderful job of incorporating historical details into the fantasy genre. The main character misses the Underground Railroad in the sky, and actually travels the journey of a slave to freedom, which gives her a newfound understanding of her grandparent's journey. The illustrations are wonderful, and if you look closely there are little details that repeat themselves throughout the story. The author's note on Harriet Tubman is informational, and is a great read for students!
Mar 30, 2011
Amy
rated it: 
This is a fascinating book in which a young girl, Cassie, follows her brother on the Underground Railroad in the sky - a sort of dream experience they have, matching the experiences of their great great great grandparents and their route to freedom from slavery. This was a very interesting portrayal of the Underground Railroad and I loved the story line and pictures. It is a great book to use when learning about slavery, yet some of the illustrations and descriptions can be scary. They are factu
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Feb 14, 2009
Claire
rated it:
We caught this at a store around the time or soon after my daughter was learning about the Underground Railroad in school - so was excellent. The pictures are awesome, and I believe this one has allusions to the African-American theme of flying out of safety. It's a poignant mix of powerful/powerlessness; fear and safety; grief and joy. Highly recommend.
Jul 19, 2010
Antonio
rated it:
“Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky,” is a historical fiction picture book of the Underground Railroad. This book can be used to introduce students to on of the most important women in African American history Harriet Tubman. The book can also be used to walk students through the experience that many slaves experienced on the Underground Railroad.
Jul 19, 2010
Ashley
rated it:
I would introduce this book in the classroom in further discussions on slavery, Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railroad. I would not read the first before explaining what the Underground Railroad was because I would not want students to get confused and think it was an actual train.
Feb 23, 2010
I have already had a second request for sharing this one. Offers the perfect opportunity for sharing the concepts of slavery, freedom, and the history of the underground railroad, as well as the historical personage of Harriet Tubman and the beautiful illustrations of Faith Ringgold.
Jul 19, 2010
Whitney
rated it:
This book is simply amazing! Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky is a picture book with wonderful illustrations of the underground railraod. This would be a great teaching tool for introducing slave history to upper elementary students. Emotionally fascinating read.
Jul 15, 2010
Christie
rated it:
Fictional picture book with amazing illustrations. The end provides background information on Harriet Tubman's life and assistance with the Udnerground Railroad. This book would make an excellent addition to a 4th grade unit on abolitionist & suffragette Harriet Tubman.
Feb 19, 2010
Megan
rated it:
A modern girl and her brother meet Harriet Tubman while flying in the sky. She lets them experience the Underground Railroad firsthand. This may be a little too abstract for most studnets, but readers with a solid background in black history may appreciate the allegory.
Jan 18, 2012
Lesley
rated it:
I'm pretty certain I read this book a few years ago, but decided to reread it for Goodreads. I enjoyed learning more about Harriet Tubman, but the topic may be a little deep for younger readers. Color illustrations do a nice job of accompanying the story.
Jul 18, 2010
Herbert
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Students learn about how the underground railroad operated by traveling through the system from the perspective of a young girl. Shows the role that various races played in the success of the underground railroad.
Jul 18, 2010
Holly
rated it:
What a beautiful way to teach kids about the Underground Railroad and Harriett Tubman's importance in the movement. Dramatic Tableaus would be a fun way for kids to act out a scene from this book.
Mar 12, 2010
Johnny
rated it:
A bit heavy, but the main character is named Cassie and it's about the history of resistance against slavery in this country, so it's a winner in our house!
Sep 09, 2009
Kevin
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This book was about the cruel,harsh,times that the slaves felt,and how the underground railroad helped some slaves escape from their slaveowner to freedom.
Dec 03, 2010
Jade
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Excelelnt multicultural book. I will definitley have this book in my classroom. This is book is about traveling and african american culture.
Jul 01, 2009
Tricia
rated it:
Although the text was a bit on the heavy side for preschoolers, both girls enjoyed this title about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Sep 08, 2009
Franklin
rated it:
this book is ready touching i wish i could fly and see da world from above
Feb 01, 2011
Ray R.
rated it:
I'm reading this book for extra credit in class. It looks like a good book.
Feb 13, 2008
J-Lynn
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This is definitely a picture book for older readers who can make the abstract connection to the fictitious Underground Railroad in the sky and the true story of Harriet Tubman and her role on the Underground Railroad. The extra historical facts in the back about Tubman might help to clarify misconceptions. Overall, a strong fable where children from 1949 experience what their great grandparents went through in order to escape slavery.
