Ringgold, Faith. We Came to America. illus. by Faith Ringgold. 32p. Knopf. May 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780517709474. 

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