This coming Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the U. S. His work and the movement he led represent values that resonate with many of us, regardless of race. I thought it would be appropriate to honor the holiday by showcasing a number of books for young children about Dr. King. What struck me most about these books was the quality of the illustrations, consistently a notch above the average in children’s literature, and a fitting tribute to their subject.
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr., by Jean Marzollo is one of the few books geared for the preschool age group. As such, it is very simplified, but still manages to convey a sense of why we celebrate Dr. King’s life. A forward gives suggestions on how to explain his death in age-appropriate ways. The oil pastel and scratchboard illustrations by Brian Pinkney are full of feeling.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Doreen Rappaport, aims at children a few years older. It’s a little more in depth, and doesn’t shirk from explaining that the civil rights marchers “were jailed and beaten and murdered.” It’s notable for the large-font quotations from Dr. King throughout the text. Bryan Collier’s watercolor and collage illustrations are evocative and dramatic. Both Collier and Rappaport received Coretta Scott King Book Award honors for previous works.
My Dream of Martin Luther King by Caldecott Honor winner Faith Ringgold has also gotten excellent reviews for this age group, but I have not had the opportunity to read it myself.
I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by another Coretta Scott King Award-winning author, Walter Dean Myers, is a little more text heavy, probably best for the older elementary ages. Leonard Jenkins keeps up the run of excellent artwork with his vivid paintings.
I Have A Dream contains the text of Dr. King’s most famous speech, with illustrations by 15 Coretta Scott King Award-winning artists. The book shows us how emotional words can translate into emotional pictures. Each of the artists also explains his or her approach to the project. The pictures should appeal to young children of all ages, especially those who have read one or more of the titles above. Older children may want to delve into the text itself.
This is not a comprehensive list. Please feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments.
“My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” by Christine King Farris.
This is an amazing picture book written by MLKjr’s sister. It’s such a personal story and really helps to make MLKjr a real person. I used this with my elementary students and it really brought home who MLKjr was and where he came from. Also has fantastic illustrations.
I reviewed the first two also and I love them. I am going to look for that last one “I Have a Dream” because I don’t remember reading it before. Thanks for the review!
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