BOOK MARKED
12 Children’s Books
About Martin Luther King Jr.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in
D.C. is celebrating its first Martin Luther King
Jr. Day this month in its recently renovated
building. To mark the occasion, DC Public
Library is sharing its favorite children’s books
inspired by the life and legacy of one of our
nation’s most prominent civil rights activists.

BY CRAIG RANALLO, LIBRARIAN,
DC PUBLIC LIBRARY
PICTURE BOOKS
“Memphis, Martin, and the
Mountaintop: The Sanitation
Strike of 1968”
By Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by
R. Gregory Christie
Prompted by the death of two of their own
due to faulty equipment, Memphis sanitation
workers led a city-wide strike in February 1968.

This strike would become Dr. King’s last fight
for justice, chronicled in this picture book for
older readers through poetry and prose.

“A Ride to Remember:
A Civil Rights Story”
By Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan,
illustrated by Floyd Cooper
On the same day Martin Luther King Jr. delivered
his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” at the
Lincoln Memorial, the Gwynn Oak Amusement
Park in Maryland became desegregated. Sharon
Langley was the first African American child to
ride the merry-go-round, which now resides
on the National Mall. This rich, tender picture
book chronicles the significance of that moment
complete with author notes and photos of
Sharon on the carousel.

“My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart”
By Angela Farris Watkins, illustrated by
Eric Velasquez
niece, this picture book offers personal
insight into one of the 20th century’s most
influential activists and a rare glimpse into
Dr. King’s home life.

EASY READERS
“Martin Luther King Jr.:
A Peaceful Leader”
By Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chin Ko
Journey through the milestones of Dr. King’s
life, from his time as a pastor to his fight for
equal rights to his legacy. This book is perfect
for young ones beginning to read on their own
but who still need a little help. It includes a
timeline, illustrations, interesting facts and
historical photographs.

“Dream March: Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and the
March on Washington”
By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson,
illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
This moving and easily digestible story
recounts the 1963 March on Washington and
the visionary man behind the mission for racial
equality in America.

“Martin Luther King Jr:
Civil Rights Leader and
American Hero”
By Hugh Roome
This Rookie Read-About Biography introduces
Told from the perspective of MLK Jr.’s young the life and career of the noted civil rights
32 Washington FAMILY JANUARY 2021



BOOK MARKED
leader for the youngest of readers. Colorful
photos and age-appropriate text make the
book accessible for those just starting to read
on their own or with a caregiver.

MIDDLE GRADE
“A Place to Land: Martin Luther
King Jr. and the Speech That
Inspired a Nation”
By Barry Wittenstein,
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Explore this true story behind one of the
“Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?” most celebrated and legendary speeches
of all time. This book shows how Dr. King
By Bonnie Bader
With short chapters written in clear, succinct spent the night before the historic March on
text and complemented by black-and-white Washington figuring out what to say and how
illustrations throughout, this entry in the to say it.

popular “Who Was?” series explains the
historical context of Dr. King’s life and legacy YOUNG ADULT
in an accessible way for upper elementary and The March Trilogy
middle school students.

By John Lewis and Andrew Aydin,
“Martin Rising:
Requiem for a King”
illustrated by Nate Powell
Long before he was a member of Congress,
John Lewis was a key leader in the Civil
Rights movement alongside his friend,
By Andrea Davis Pinkney,
Martin Luther King Jr. This graphic novel
illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This beautiful tapestry of poetry, musicality trilogy, told from his own perspective,
and spirituality explores the final months follows Lewis’s childhood in rural Alabama
of one of the most influential men in U.S. to his first meeting with Dr. King to the
Nashville sit-in campaign, the March on
American history.

Washington and the showdown in Selma to
end voter suppression.

“The Rock and
the River”
By Kekla Magoon
In 1960s Chicago, 14-year-old Sam is caught
in a conflict between his father’s nonviolent
approach to seeking civil rights for African
Americans, inspired by the work of Dr. King,
and his older brother, who has just joined
the Black Panthers.

“Dear Martin”
By Nic Stone
Top of his class and bound for the Ivy League,
Justyce McAllister begins writing a journal
to Martin Luther King Jr. in an attempt to
make sense of his recent experience with
systemic racism. Through his writing,
Justyce explores if Dr. King’s teachings hold
up today and how to make sense of a world
that doesn’t seem to trust him. n
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