Martin Luther King in Picture Books (page 2)

CHILDREN'S

Released: Sept. 1, 2001

MARTIN’S BIG WORDS: THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier

"Readers will hear his voice echo in this presentation. (timeline, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 5-9)"

Beginning with the startling cover, which contains only the face of Martin Luther King Jr., with his smile broad, and his eyes crinkled in laughter, this title intrigues. Read full book review >

CHILDREN'S

Released: Nov. 1, 1997

I HAVE A DREAM

by Jr. King, illustrated by Ashley Bryan

"Adults who heard the speech will experience it anew; children who didn't will be able to place the words in a historical framework. (Nonfiction. 8-11)"

A handsome edition in which 15 illustrators, Coretta Scott King's foreword, and an appended two-page biography of Martin Luther King Jr. create a unique context for his famous speech of 1963. Read full book review >

Cover art for MY DREAM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

CHILDREN'S

Released: Dec. 1, 1995

MY DREAM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

by Faith Ringgold, illustrated by Faith Ringgold

"This is her most accessible work since Tar Beach (1991), much less moiled and private than Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky (1992). (chronology) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)"

Ringgold embroiders her vision of King's life and message with scenes from a dream the narrator has had: Young Martin is turned away from a white school, gets caught up in a civil rights demonstration and is jailed, and marches with his parents in front of a huge crowd, all carrying bags of ``prejudice, ignorance, hate, violence and fear, which they intended to trade for hope, freedom, peace, awareness and love.'' She notes that ``some people had bigger bags than others, but everybody had something to trade.'' Her dream ends at King's funeral, with those bags in a huge pyre. Read full book review >

Cover art for HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING

CHILDREN'S

Released: Jan. 1, 1993

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING

by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Brian J. Pinkney

"A quiet, poignantly telling book. (Biography/Picture book. 4+)"

In a thoughtful note, Marzollo suggests that adults may wish to change the words ``shot and killed'' to ``died'' when sharing this book with preschoolers, but goes on to advise that ``if we handle the subject sensitively, we will find that children, like ourselves, can look at truth and cope with death.'' Narrating King's life and accomplishments with a dignity and simplicity that is equally appropriate for young children or less accomplished older readers, the author concludes with a graceful summary of the reasons he is honored with a special day. Read full book review >

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS

Martin Luther King in Picture Books (page 2)