Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

In January, we will all take a day to honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. However, is a day really enough time to honor his work and legacy? I don’t think so! I know how challenging it can be to fit everything in, but it is important to make time. Here are some books and resources you can share with your students about Dr. King.

Click on any of the titles below to learn more about each book. You can also find all of these books on Amazon.

we are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

BOOKS ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport

Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the most influential and gifted speakers of all time. Doreen Rappaport uses quotes from some of his most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a simple, direct way. Bryan Collier’s stunning collage art combines remarkable watercolor paintings with vibrant patterns and textures. A timeline and a list of additional books and websites help make this a standout biography of Dr. King.

My First Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Marion Dane Bauer

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man. His words changed the way people thought, and his actions spurred them on to change the world. With simple, lyrical text and bold, kid-friendly illustrations, this book introduces Dr. King to the youngest readers and inspires them to change the world.

National Geographic Kids: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Kitson Jazynka

In this level three biography, difficult concepts are made understandable and transitioned into a more approachable manner. This includes the use of sidebars, timetables, diagrams and fun facts to hold the interest of the young reader. The colorful design and educational illustrations round out this text as an exemplary book for their young minds to explore.

I am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer

As a child, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shocked by the terrible and unfair way African American people were treated. When he grew up, he decided to do something about it—peacefully, with powerful words. He helped gather people together for nonviolent protests and marches, and he always spoke up about loving other human beings and doing what’s right. He spoke about the dream of a kinder future, and bravely led the way toward racial equality in America.

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David A. Adler

Born in 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up to become a civil rights leader whose philosophy and practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped African Americans win many battles for equal rights. Young readers will learn how his interest in equality was sparked by experiences in his childhood, and how his legacy shaped modern America.

Pairing detailed illustrations and an accessible narrative of Dr. King’s life, this book is ideal for a discussion about the history behind the holiday, or an early introduction to the struggle for civil rights in America. Includes a timeline of important dates.

I have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King gave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our nation’s history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson’s magnificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults alike. The themes of equality and freedom for all are not only relevant today, 50 years later, but also provide young readers with an important introduction to our nation’s past.

My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King III

Martin Luther King III was one of those four little children mentioned in Martin Luther King’s groundbreaking “I Have a Dream” speech. In this memoir, Martin Luther King Jr.’s son gives an intimate look at the man and the father behind the civil rights leader. Mr. King’s remembrances show both his warm, loving family and a momentous time in American history.

The Cart That Carried Martin by Eve Bunting

The strength and spirit of Dr. King permeates this picture book about Dr. King’s funeral in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1968. Quiet yet affecting, THE CART THAT CARRIED MARTIN, is a unique tribute to the life of a man known world-wide for his outstanding efforts as a leader of the African American Civil Rights Movement.

Eve Bunting focuses on the funeral procession of Dr. King, beginning with the two men who found the cart to carry him through the streets of Atlanta. After painting it green, two mules named Belle and Ada are hitched to the cart where Dr. King’s coffin is placed. Tens of thousands of mourners gather as the cart makes its way to Ebenezer Baptist Church, and then past the Georgia state capitol to Morehouse College. All the while, crowds of people pay their respects by singing songs of hope.

Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream by Carole Boston Weatherford

With poetic text and dynamic art, award-winning creators Carole Boston Weatherford and James E. Ransome use key moments from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life to inspire future generations to stand up for what’s right, make the world a better place, and be a King.

You can be a King. Stamp out hatred. Put your foot down and walk tall.
You can be a King. Beat the drum for justice. March to your own conscience.

Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson

In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington by Frances E. Ruffin

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation’s capital. They came by plane, by bus, by car–even on roller-skates–to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone. They also came to hear the words of a very special leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Told with a wonderful immediacy, this book captures the spirit of this landmark day in American history and brings Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to vivid life for young children.

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein

Much has been written about Dr. King and the 1963 March on Washington. But there’s little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. “It’s terrible to be circling up there without a place to land.”

While it isn’t a book about Dr. King, you can also revisit The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf. This book is great for making connections about how powerful words can be and the message behind both Martin’s dream and DeRolf’s text.

After reading one of the books about Dr. King, you can have students write about a dream they have for the future. Then add a 4×6 photo of the student to the page. You can grab this freebie here.